Golfers are America's richest athletes

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson once again top SI.com's Fortunate 50 list of the 50 highest earning athletes in America.

However the average income for athletes has dropped for the first time in six years, though it still weighs in at a cool $23.6 million.

Tiger Woods earned just under $100 million whilst "Lefty" Phil Mickelson earned $52 million. Despite the huge sums of money, this represents a drop for both involved as on-course prize money drops as well as off-course endorsement deals dry up.

Woods has lost a lucrative Buick deal whilst Mickelson lost a deal with Ford. This can largely be blamed on the global economic downturn.

The only other golfer to make the list was Jim Furyk at #41 - he earned $16.2 million.

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