Highest-Paid Female Golfers

Forbes magazine has released another of those highest-paid athletes list, this one focusing on female athletes.

And in golf, Michelle Wie is still No. 1 (No. 5 overall on the list). Four tennis players lead the list, but Forbes likes what's happening in women's golf:

Golfers Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Wie and Lorena Ochoa have broken into eight-figure earnings territory, a testament to the LPGA's efforts to globalize. The women's tour not only has top golfers from numerous countries (Sorenstam is from Sweden, Ochoa from Mexico, while Wie is Korean-American, born in Hawaii), but has made a point to broaden its international appeal by holding more events for players in their home markets.

"The tour has a much more international flavor to it," says David Carter of the Sports Business Group, an industry consultant.

A blurb accompanying a photo of Wie says:

A limited schedule this year (injuries, college enrollment) didn't hurt Wie's endorsement career. But if the teen sensation wants to extend her deals with Nike and Sony, she'll need to spend more time on the course in 2009.

It will be interesting to see what Nike Golf does with Wie when her contract is up. Do they keep the faith and give her a new deal? Do they give up and drop her? If I'm Nike, I'm trying to re-sign her. Because I (meaning me, Mulligan Stu) am still convinced that she will be a big-time winner. Many others have lost that faith, of course (or never had it). Has Nike?

Following Wie's $12 million earnings on the Forbes list is Annika Sorenstam at No. 6 and $11 million. Then Lorena Ochoa at No. 7 with $10 million. Paula Creamer rounds out the Top 10 at $6 million.