...the rich and famous

Pacquiao among top earning int'l athletes

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

07/17/2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fight king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao is included in Sports Illustrated's (SI) "International 20," a list of the highest earning international athletes for the past year.

 

Pacquiao ranked No. 6 after raking in $39 million in total earnings.

The SI list did not include Pacquiao's purse from his controversial loss to Timothy Bradley last June 9, as it only counted boxing purses from June 2011 to May 2012.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s rival, unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., lived up to his "Money" moniker by topping SI's "Fortunate 50" list, a different list that tracks the highest-earning athletes in the United States.
Mayweather topped the list after earning $85 million last year.

"It's hard to decide which fact is more impressive: that Mayweather needed just two paydays to make it to the top, or that he did it without any endorsement income," SI wrote.

"Mayweather's wins over Victor Ortiz in September 2011 and Miguel Cotto in May 2012, brought him $40-M and $45-M, respectively – including his cut of the pay-per-view receipts," it added.

Mayweather is currently serving an 87-day jail sentence for a guilty plea to a 2010 domestic violence charge. The unbeaten boxer, who last year did not make the "Fortunate 50," is also the world’s highest paid athlete, according to Forbes.

Pacquiao is No. 2 in Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes in 2012.

It was the first time in the history of the "Fortunate 50" that golfer Tiger Woods did not occupy the top spot. Woods is ranked No. 3 this year with a total of $56,440,238 in 2012 earnings.

One of his golfing rivals, Phil Mickelson, is at No. 2 with a total earnings of $60,763,488.

NBA superstars Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James of the Miami Heat round out the top five.

The "International 20" list, meanwhile, was topped by tennis superstar and world No. 1 Roger Federer, his fourth straight year at the top.

The Swiss maestro earned $51.4 million in 2012. Football superstar David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy was second, with $46 million.

Footballers Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), and Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso completed the top five.

...the top Athletes

Mayweather, Pacquiao top athlete income list

Agence France-Presse

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

NEW YORK – Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the boxers that fight fans worldwide want to see in the ring together, topped the list of the 100 highest-paid athletes released by Forbes magazine on Monday.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. AP/INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

Mayweather, who ranked No. 1 for making $85 million off two fights last year, is serving a three-month jail sentence for domestic battery in Las Vegas, having failed in a bid to serve the remainder of his time under house arrest.

While his doctors and co-manager warned that staying behind bars might cause irreparable damage to his fitness and risk his boxing career, the undefeated US fighter is expected to climb back into the ring, likely later this year.

But Mayweather will not be fighting Filipino icon Pacquiao in the mega-bout that boxing fans have sought for years.

Pacquiao, second on the list at $62 million from earnings and endorsements, lost to unbeaten US fighter Tim Bradley on July 9 and they are set to fight a rematch in November.

Tiger Woods, who had topped the Forbes list since 2001, fell to third this time with $59.4 million, his earnings off $16 million from the previous year and by half since his peak in 2009, mostly due to lost endorsement deals.

It was in 2009 that Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, saw a sex scandal erupt that caused him to start his 2010 season late and 2011 saw Woods nagged by injuries.

Woods went on a 17-month win drought until he won last March at Bay Hill in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He followed up with a victory earlier this month at the Jack Nicklaus-hosted Memorial but has not won a major since the 2008 US Open.

Miami Heat star LeBron James ranks fourth at $53 million, the highest of 13 basketball players and on the list. The Heat are playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals as James seeks his first league crown.

While a lockout last year trimmed 20 percent off his salary, endorsement deals boosted his total and a marketing partnership made him a stakeholder in English Premier League football side Liverpool.

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer was fifth at $52.7 million followed by NBA star Kobe Bryant at $52.3 million, US golfer Phil Mickelson at $47.8 million, English football star David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy at $46 million and Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo at $42.5 million, with the top annual salary of any athlete in any league at $20 million.

American football boasts 30 players on the list, topped by No. 10 Peyton Manning, the former Indianapolis Colts star who was cut in March and signed with the Denver Broncos for $96 million over six years.

Manning’s $42.4 million ranks 10th overall and he continues to be the top endorsement pitchman among gridiron stars.

In total, the top 100 made $2.6 billion.

Only two women, both tennis players, cracked the list – Russian star Maria Sharapova, the newest career Grand Slam winner after her French Open final triumph earlier this month, and China’s Li Na, the 2011 French Open champion.

Sharapova was 26th at $27.9 million, thanks in great measure to huge global endorsement totals as well as $5.9 million in prize money over the past year.

Li was 81st overall at $18.4 million, with seven new endorsement deals after becoming the first Asian-born player to win a Grand Slam singles crown.

Cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni ranked No. 31 and India batsman Sachin Tendulkar was No. 78.

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, the reigning 100- and 200-meter Olympic champion and world record-holder who figures to be a top attraction at the London Olympics, was 63rd with $20.3 million.

...the Asian Tour Order of Merit awardee

Filipino Pagunsan wins merit title

Agence France-Presse

via abs-cbnnews.com

12/05/2011

HONG KONG - Juvic Pagunsan became the first ever Filipino to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit on Sunday when he finished in 10th place at the UBS Hong Kong Open.

Juvic pagunsan. Photo: espnstar.com

Pagunsan closed out the event -- won by world number two Rory McIlroy on 12-under 268 -- with a two-under 68 for a six under total, adding US$55,000 to his season's total and putting him out of reach with one event left.

"I accept that it's one of the biggest achievements in my entire life," said Asia's new number one.

"I'm really surprised. Everyone dreams to get the Order of Merit on the Asian Tour. I wasn't expecting that this year. My ranking before the Singapore Open was dangerous and suddenly I just jumped to number one."

Pagunsan has now won US$788,298 for the season with US$660,600 coming from his second-place effort at last month's Singapore Open.

As Asia's new number one, Pagunsan will be exempt into the British Open and World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship in 2012. He will be officially crowned at the season-ending Thai Golf Championship, which starts December 15.

"There's no holiday," said Pagunsan. "I try to focus every day. I'll try to win (the Thailand Golf Championship). Maybe I can but I'm not so sure as it's everybody's ball game."

Pagunsan revealed his game had benefited from a new fitness regime he first started after last month's Taiwan Masters event.

"I have jogged every morning," said Pagunsan. "It helped improve my game. It helped me improve physically and mentally here. I was fresh."

...the Asia's top player

Juvic is Asia's top player

 

 

By DING MARCELO

Manila Bulletin

December 2, 2011

 

 

Juvic Pagunsan makes history by winning the Asian Order of Merit crown.

HONG KONG — Juvic Pagunsan woke up Friday and a chill ran down his spine, literally.
"Ang ginaw," he said as temperature hit the 15 degrees Centigrade in one of the earliest winter weather arrivals in this bustling city.

But inside, it was warm for Pagunsan who insured his weekend stint at the Hong Kong Open at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling after a second round even par 70 and, for all intents and purposes, is now the Asian Tour Order of Merit winner.

His ascension as Asia's best was helped in no small measure by the meltdown of his closest challenger, India's SP Chowrasia, who bombed out with a two-round total of five-over par 145, and missed the cut.

Told that Chowrasia missed the cut, Pagunsan said he was happy but that will not stop him playing the last stop of the Asian Tour.

"Maganda laro kaya dapat I should grab the opportunity," he said.

Indeed, the Filipino, who also captured the local tour's Order of Merit title last week despite sitting out the last three events to serve a tour-imposed suspension, has been playing very well, his season marked by a second place finish in the Singapore Open where he banked over $600,000 (about P28 million).

He may not go anywhere near that payday, but his lead in the Order of Merit is likely to increase further although that would be unnecessary since the challenge has faded.

His par 70 enabled him to be in the mix as he stayed within five shots of the clubhouse leader after two rounds of the $2.7-million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.

His 36-hole total of 138 put him tied for 10th at the moment although that may change as half of the field, led by Rory McIlroy, are still out on the course.

"Mas maganda sana laro," said Pagunsan. He said he squandered his two-under-par round with a three-put bogey on the 14th and after missing a five-footer or par on the 18th. He also bogeyed the sixth after missing the green.

His birdies, all inside 17 feet, were at the fourth, 10th and 11th holes.

He blamed the weather for his up-and-down round as he wore a long-sleeved sweater throughout while most Europeans were in warm-weather attire.

"Maginaw," he said. "Ang hirap mag-putt kasi halos di mo maramdaman yung putter.

Still, the Filipino No. 1 took care of his group, beating three-time major winner Padraig Harrington (70-71) who is on the cutline at one-over.

The other player in his group, Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, was also one-over after 36 holes.

Antonio Lascuna fired his second straight 72 and at 144 may be headed home, while Mars Pucay is still out on the course and battling to stay for the weekend.

But that's more than enough to secure him a weekend stint and further consolidation of his Asian Tour Order of Merit lead which is being challenged by India's SP Chowrasia.

But Chowrasia's chase may have come to an inglorious end here after he finished five over after 36 holes and missed the cut.

...the Singapore play-off 2nd placer

Bad boy Pagunsan comes good in Singapore play-off

By Talek Harris

AFP News 

14 November 2011

 

Bad boy Juvic Pagunsan was grinning widely Monday after shaking off controversies and shooting to the top of the Asian money list by remarkably finishing second at the Barclays Singapore Open.

Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines at the Singapore Open on November 13. He has nearly doubled his career earnings by finishing second at the Barclays Singapore Open

The Filipino, 33, who was barred from his domestic circuit following a number of run-ins, was also in grave danger of losing his Asian Tour card after slipping to 54th on the money list, just six spots from elimination.

But the former caddie became Asian golf's overnight sensation by claiming the Singapore Open's US$666,660 second prize in a rain-delayed play-off against Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano early on Monday.

Pagunsan admitted he was staggered by the turnaround, which now puts him in pole position to become the season's top earner with only three eligible events left on this year's Asian Tour.

"It surprises me because I am on top now -- I almost lost my card this year," Pagunsan said.

"It is a surprise. I will play the rest of the events in Asia. I want to get the Order of Merit (title). I really want to get that. It is a big achievement for my life."

The coveted money title is suddenly well within reach for the slight, but clean-swinging, Pagunsan, who dropped out of school at 15 to pursue golf and has now nearly doubled his career earnings in one hit.

"Hopefully," Pagunsan said, when asked if he could now challenge for more big titles. "I work hard every tournament. I prepare for every tournament. Who knows, maybe Juvic can play the big events (now)?"

According to newspaper reports from the Philippines, Pagunsan scorched to four wins on this year's Filipino circuit before being suspended for the rest of the season for failing to properly register his caddie.

The www.pinoygolfer.com website said the sanction followed earlier transgressions, including a mid-round walkout from last year's ICTSI Forest Hills Invitational.

And at this season's ICTSI Negros Occidental Championship at Marapara, Juvic dismissed his caddie after an argument over a putt and carried his own clubs for the rest of his round.

"I think it tragic that the most talented golfer in the country today is given to such issues," the website's editor wrote in a blog after Pagunsan's punishment was handed out in September.

"With a different attitude and approach to the game, there is no telling just how good he could be."

Pagunsan also placed second at the 2006 Hong Kong Open and he said he was so laid-back about the high-pressure play-off, delayed overnight after lightning storms, that he forgot all about it when he woke up.

"Actually I forgot I was playing this morning. I woke up at six in the morning and went straight to the golf course," said Pagunsan, who narrowly missed a birdie putt for victory on the first play-off hole.

"I had big confidence I was going to win. Unfortunately I missed the first putt. I thought to myself 'this is my big chance to win' but I missed it. But I am still a big winner in myself."

...the amateur golfer

Filipino amateur golfer wins prestigious Baiduri Masters in Brunei

By Aquiles Z. Zonio
Inquirer Mindanao

Monday, July 11th, 2011

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei Darussalam—A Filipino amateur golfer bagged this year’s championship plum of the Baiduri Masters, besting 544 other players, including the Bruneian three-time champion Seruji Hj Setia.

The 21-year old Carlos Miguel “Migo” Ochoa, the youngest among the three children of Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Nestor Ochoa, carved for himself a niche as the first-ever Filipino to win the championship in the 16-year history of the Baiduri Masters.

Ochoa, who was scheduled to fly back to Manila on Monday (July 11), received during the awarding rites held at the Orchid Garden Hotel on Sunday evening the championship trophy, and the coveted Baiduri Masters green jacket.

The annual golf tourney is recognized as the biggest and most prestigious golf tournament here, next to the Asian Tour-sanctioned Brunei Open.

Held at the Royal Brunei Airlines Golf Club in Berakas, Ochoa was not in the top 12 during the elimination round held last July 1 to 3. But he never lost his composure and gathered his strength to climb up to the top 12 during the next round.

Ochoa was number four out of the top 12 players who advanced to the finals after last Saturday’s play. Most successful amateur Bruneian golfer, Seruji, led the fray with a total score of 70.

“I was two birdies down and I needed two birdies to catch up with three players leading the pack. But they all scored a bogey in the last three holes and I won by the last stroke,” Ochoa told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A graduate of Bachelor of Sports Science at the University of Santo Tomas, Ochoa came here to join the golf tourney.

“Since there’s no tournament in our country, Dad asked me to come here and play in the Baiduri Masters,” he said.

He claimed it was a tough match-up against the local players who have been considered veterans in playing golf.

During the championship round, only two players, including himself, were in their 20s. The rest were veterans.
Ochoa started playing golf at the age of 11. He stopped when he was in college to focus on his schooling.

Then, a year ago, right after graduation, he was motivated by his father to go back and be active once again in golf.

“He’s the one who keeps motivating me,” Migo said of his dad.

“I’m planning to turn pro after two more years. Before that, I want to play for the country in regional and international amateur golf tournaments,” he said.

The Philippine envoy here was so proud of the accomplishment of his son.

Besting his dad just in the first week of playing golf about a decade ago, Migo went a long way to capture his first ever prestigious amateur title.

Three luxury cars – Porsche Cayman S, BMW523i and Land Rover Freelander – and two cash prizes of $BND20,000 were up for grabs for any player who can hit a hole-in-one during the tournament. This year, no one achieved such a feat. In the history of Baiduri Masters, only one player managed to strike a hole-in-one in 2009 and went home driving a BMW730Li.

The Baiduri Masters is an event aimed at raising funds for local charities. It is organized by the Baiduri Bank Group, with several local business firms as partners.

...the Aussie's best golfer

Pinoy golfer finishes second in US Open

by Camille B. Naredo,

abs-cbnNEWS.com

06/21/2011

MANILA, Philippines – Rory McIlroy is the current toast of the golf world, thanks to his dominant victory in the US Open.

But golf fans should not sleep on Jason Day, who came in second to McIlroy and has finished in the top 10 of five PGA events this year.

The 23-year-old Filipino-Australian is enjoying a brilliant 2011 season. He is ranked number 9 in the world and is currently Australia's top ranked golfer.

In his Masters debut last April, he finished tied for second place with fellow Australian Adam Sott.
He also placed fifth in the HP Byron Nelson Championship last May.

Day was born to an Australian father and a Filipina mother, who were both employed as meat workers in Queensland.

In an interview last April, Day said that he got his competitive nature from his mother.

"She's very competitive," Day said of his mother, Dening.

"She would always tell me to beat (my opponents). Not just beat them, but to crush them into the ground."

Dening did more than instill a killer instinct in her son; she also recognized his potential and sent him to a golf academy.

Day was unable to provide a serious threat to McIlroy in the US Open, but the Fil-Australian is determined to bounce back this November in the Australian PGA Championship. It will be his first time to compete in the event.

"I'm really excited about coming back to Queensland and playing the PGA at Coolum," said Day.

"This year will be big. It's going to be a great field and I'm looking forward to playing well in front of my friends and family and all the young golf fans."

Day is determined to improve his ranking and reach the pinnacle of the golf world.

"I want to become No. 1 in the world. I was taught in my life, by my parents, that you don't get anywhere without working hard," he said. With reports from abs-cbnNEWS.com and Agence France-Presse

...the superstar athlete

Pacquiao 24th in Forbes' 50 highest-paid athletes list

06/02/2011
GMANews.tv

Manny Pacquiao dislodged Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Forbes.com's highest-paid athletes list as the boxing superstar and first-term Congressman in the Philippine House of Representatives placed 24th among 50 superstars of the sporting world.

Mayweather Jr. placed second behind Tiger Woods in last year's list with $65 million in total earnings. But the undefeated American boxer has not fought in 13 months since a dominating win over Sugar Shane Mosley.

Mayweather's 12-round non-title bout against Mosley on May 1, 2010 earned 1.4 million pay-per-view buys, the second-most lucrative non-heavyweight bout ever.

Pacquiao, 32, is the only boxer in this year's list joining 29-year-old Brazilian football star Kaka at 24th spot.

Kaka, an attacking midfielder, appeared with British striker Wayne Rooney on the cover of the Electronic Arts Sports soccer video game FIFA 11, which sold 100 million units.

Pacquiao is currently boxing's biggest draw, said Forbes.com. His last six fights generated more than six million pay-per-view buys combined.

Forbes.com added that Pacquiao has also begun to beef up his endorsement portfolio after the eight-division world champion signed a three-year deal with Hewlett-Packard for a global ad campaign. - Joseph G. Lariosa, JVP, GMA News

...the Sirikit Cup winners

Ardina bags title; Phl 2nd in Sirikit Cup (The Philippine Star)  March 13, 2011 12:00 AM

  

Dottie Ardina with her Queen Sirikit trophy| Zoom

MANILA, Philippines –  Dottie Ardina used a strong start and a solid finish to fire a two-under 70 and turn back world No. 1 Hyo Joo Kim to snatch the individual crown in the 33rd Queen Sirikit Cup at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India Friday.

The Philippines settled for runner-up finish to South Korea, which cruised to its fifth straight victory in team play. But Ardina stunned the field with her awesome game, finishing with a 211 and nipping the fancied Hyo by one in their battle for the individual crown.

“I really wanted to win that’s why I gave it my best shot,” said Ardina, who overcame a three-stroke deficit to beat Korea’s top player. “It’s just too bad that we fell short of our title drive in team play.”

But her victory more than made up for the team’s failed bid as Ardina proved her worth and showed she can beat even the best player in world.

With Chihiro Ikeda bouncing back with a 71 after a 78 in the second round, the Phl closed out with a second straight 141 and a 429, four shots off Korea’s 425 aggregate in the 54-hole tournament among the leading teams in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jayvie Agojo, who counted for the team with a 71 in the second round, had a 74 and didn’t count for the squad, whose campaign was sanctioned by the Women’s Golf Association of the Phils. and sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Hyo, the reigning World Amateur individual champion, cracked under pressure and hobbled with a 74 for the team’s 143 output.

“It was a big win and a big boost for Dottie. By beating the world No. 1, I’m sure she’ll be winning big tournaments again,” said national team coach and ICTSI mentor Bong Lopez, whose wards also posted the country’s best finish at No. 8 in the World Amateurs last year while re-staking their claim as the top ladies team in Southeast Asia.

Ardina, 17, birdied the first three holes in impressive fashion to catch up with Hyo but dropped a shot on No. 4 and made the turn at 34. She three-putted No. 11 for another bogey and dropped two shots on the long par-3 12th when she pulled her 4-iron tee shot in the bushes.

But the veteran internationalist bounced back with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 inside five feet and took a one-shot lead over the Korean ace heading to the par-5 18th. Hyo reached the green in two but flubbed an 18-foot eagle putt while Ardina laid it up and pitched to within five feet to match her rival’s birdie for the win.