Two-time Masters champion, Jose Maria Olazabal was born on February 5, 1966, and won 10 amateur titles from 1982 to 1985, after which he turned professional at the age of 19, and set out a successful golf career of straight 30 professional wins, with 23 wins on the European Tour.
Olazabal's record-breaking alliance with Seve Ballesteros during the Ryder Cup from 1987 to 2006 is among his most known accomplishments. They won 12 points as a team, going 11-2-2 total in four balls and foursomes, and received the nickname “Spanish Armada.”
Nevertheless, severe foot and back discomfort almost ended his career. At his worst, he was unable to walk and had to withdraw from the Ryder Cup in 1995 due to a series of misdiagnoses that made his condition worse.
But he bounced back in 1999, defeating Davis Love III by two strokes in the Masters Tournament. However, he never fully recovered, as he has struggled with foot issues ever since and played sometimes in full schedules and sometimes just missing more than half of it.
Olazabal was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2009. He joined the Champions Tour in addition to playing on the PGA and European tours since turning 50 in 2016. Being a Masters champion, he has the privilege of playing in the Masters for a lifetime, and in his most recent 2024 Masters, he finished tied for 45th place with a score of 297, over 9.
What are Jose Maria Olazabal's Career Earnings in 2024?
According to Spotrac, Olazabal has a total career earnings of $12.8 million, with $12.4 from official events and $426,643 from unofficial events as of May 2024. Most recently, he competed in the Masters Tournament, finishing tied for 45th place with a total score of 297, over 9, earning $57,200; so far, this is the only event he has played in.
Jose Maria Olazabal’s year-by-year earnings are as follows:
Year | Official Event | Unoffical Events | Total Cash | Cumulative Cash |
1985 | - | - | - | - |
1987 | $7,470 | $35,267 | $42,737 | $42,737 |
1989 | $56,039 | $50,773 | $106,811 | $149,548 |
1990 | $337,837 | $20,182 | $358,018 | $507,567 |
1991 | $382,124 | $5,040 | $387,164 | $894,730 |
1992 | $63,429 | $128,000 | $191,429 | $1,086,159 |
1993 | $60,160 | - | $60,160 | $1,146,319 |
1994 | $969,900 | $9,882 | $979,782 | $2,126,101 |
1995 | $213,415 | - | $213,415 | $2,339,516 |
1997 | $173,589 | - | $173,589 | $2,513,105 |
1998 | $208,486 | - | $208,486 | $2,721,591 |
1999 | $865,167 | - | $865,167 | $3,586,757 |
2000 | $320,971 | - | $320,971 | $3,907,728 |
2001 | $458,678 | - | $458,678 | $4,366,406 |
2002 | $1,987,027 | - | $1,987,027 | $6,353,433 |
2003 | $479,155 | - | $479,155 | $6,832,588 |
2004 | $495,050 | - | $495,050 | $7,327,638 |
2005 | $1,764,227 | - | $1,764,227 | $9,091,865 |
2006 | $2,120,422 | $177,500 | $2,297,922 | $11,389,788 |
2007 | $979,249 | - | $979,249 | $12,369,037 |
2008 | $60,200 | - | $60,200 | $12,429,237 |
2009 | $239,629 | - | $239,629 | $12,668,866 |
2011 | $6,330 | - | $6,330 | $12,675,196 |
2012 | $18,677 | - | $18,677 | $12,693,873 |
2013 | $19,480 | - | $19,480 | $12,713,353 |
2014 | $48,600 | - | $48,600 | $12,761,953 |
2021 | $28,635 | - | $28,635 | $12,790,588 |
2024 | $57,200 | - | $57,200 | $12,847,788 |
Total | $12,421,145 | $426,643 | $12,847,788 | - |
Jose Maria Olazabal's Career Earnings in 2023?
In the 2023 season, Olazabal competed in only three events; European Tour's Staysure PGA Senior Championship (T30), the Senior Open presented by Rolex (T134) and the 2023 Masters (cut), earning $4,245 (€3,936) and $1,593 (€1,477), respectively.
Jose Maria Olazabal’s tournament-by-tournament earnings are as follows:
Date | Tournament | Place | To Par | Total | Earnings |
Aug 27, 2023 | Staysure PGA Senior Championship | T30 | 8 | 296 | $4,245 |
Jul 30, 2023 | The Senior Open presented by Rolex | T134 | - | - | $1,593 |
Apr 14, 2024 | Masters Tournament | T45 | 9 | 297 | $57,200 |
How much does Jose Maria Olazabal make per year?
It is not possible to estimate Olazabal’s annual earnings, given that his injuries nearly ended his career in 1995, and even after his 1999 Masters win, he had his share of ups and downs due to the foot injury, missing several events and at times seasons because of it.
Furthermore, golfers don’t usually have a fixed income, making it all the more difficult; however, on the basis of his total on-course career earnings of $12.8 million, his average annual income of nearly forty years is $329,680 as of May 2024. The latter amount cannot be confirmed, though.
When was Jose Maria Olazabal's highest prize money in a year?
Jose Maria Olabazal's highest prize money won in his nearly forty year career was at the 1999 Masters Tournament, where he defeated Davis Love III for a score of 280, under 8, earning $720,000.
His second highest prize money was from his win at the 2002 Buick Invitational, where he defeated J.L. Lewis and Mark O'Meara with a score of 275, under 13 by one stroke, earning $648,000.
His third highest was at the 2007 Players Championship, where he finished tied for third place with Stewart Cink for a score of 280, under 8, earning $522,000.
Sources –
José María Olazábal | PGA | Spotrac.com
15 Things You Didn't Know About Jose Maria Olazabal | Golf Monthly
Golfer Jose Maria Olazabal Biography and Career Details (liveabout.com)
José María Olazábal - Wikipedia
Wins & Results - José María OLAZÁBAL - Players - European Tour
