Golfers with Private Jets

There is a huge difference between the amount of money earned between PGA Tour players and the way they travel.

The most successful and highest earners on tour have private jets and fly with their families, friends or alone.

Other players who are establishing themselves on tour or trying to earn their card will fly first-class or basic economy.

In this article, we will break down 10 of the most notable golfers with private jets.

Tiger Woods

The 82-time PGA Tour winner owns a Gulfstream G550. This $54 million jet can hold 19 passengers, sleep up to 8 and has 4 living areas.

Tiger Woods’ Gulfstream is serviced by two pilots and has a cruising speed of 652 miles per hour and a top range of 7,767 miles.

G550’s are run with two Rolls Royce engines and have a max speed of 679 miles per hour.

The jet is used for commercial flights, business, and even military missions thanks to its versatility and high performance.

Phil Mickelson

Tiger Woods’ counterpart, Phil Mickelson, who has wrapped up numerous accolades and majors over the years, owns a Gulfstream V.

Phil Mickelson’s Gulfstream comes with a $40-$43 million dollar price tag and allows for typically a maximum of 12 passengers onboard.

The top speed of the jet is Mach 0.885 which is equivalent to 679 miles per hour similar to the G550.

The range of the aircraft is 7,500 miles.

Mickelson actually earned his pilot’s license after being inspired by his father who flew for the Navy in Vietnam. The major winner leaves the private flights to his pilots though.

Jack Nicklaus

The winningest major champion in golf history (18) has flown in several types of Gulfstream jets throughout his career including the G-III, G-IV and G-V. One of the most notable planes was the G-III.

The G-III was produced from 1979-1986 and cost about $37 million dollars. It holds 19 passengers and there were 202 models built.

The Golden Bear also caught rides with his friend, the legendary Arnold Palmer, who actually piloted an Aero Commander.

One of Nicklaus’ pilots was Dutch Deutschendorf, the father of famous singer John Denver. Both shared Deutschendorf as their pilot.

Sergio Garcia

2017 Masters’ Champ Sergio Garcia owns a $22.9 million Hawker 4000. The jet was in production from 2001-2013.

Sergio Garcia’s plane can hold up to 15,225 pounds of weight and the range of the aircraft is over 3,300 miles.

The Spaniard dubbed El Niño can enjoy the company of up to 13 other people in his private plane.

Rory McIlroy

The former world No. 1 has earned a few dollars over his career being a major winner and FedEx Cup champion.

McIlory is the proud owner of a Bombardier Challenger 605. These jets have a max speed of 629 miles per hour and cost $27 million.

The plane can hold up to 12 passengers and has a cabin space of 28 feet.

Rickie Fowler

Like Mickelson, beloved PGA Tour pro Rickie Fowler flies in a Gulfstream V.

Fowler flew in a commercial Gulfstream V for his honeymoon with Allison Stokke lent to him by Puma, (his sponsor) which he posted on his Instagram. 

Greg Norman

Greg Norman is a massive connoisseur of private jets and has owned seven different models throughout his lifetime.

With countless business meetings, sponsorship deals, golf courses, and tournaments to attend to, it’s no wonder he has owned so many.

Norman is even the brand ambassador for Delta Private Jets as of 2019.

While traveling to Geneva, Norman had a scary moment in 2012 when he and his wife were on a Gulfstream G4. The pilot had trouble landing the plane but fortunately was able to salvage the situation.

Among the different aircrafts he has owned are the Gulfstream IV, 550 and the Lockheed JetStar which was produced in the 60s and 70s.

The Shark also owns a $2.6 million Bell 407 helicopter which he flies himself.

Arnold Palmer

Before his death, the legendary Arnold Palmer was obsessed with flying and flew his own private jets.

On his website, a strong statement was posted regarding his love for flying.

“Next to marrying his wife, Winnie, and deciding on a professional career in golf, there’s only one decision Arnold Palmer considers smarter. Learning how to fly an airplane.”

As a child, Palmer grew an interest in planes and built balsa wood models. About a mile from his home on the edge of Latrobe Country Club, was a small airport.

“Arnie” has owned a Lear Jet, five different models of the Cessna Citation jet and a Citation X which currently sells for between $20.5-21.6 million.

Jordan Spieth

 The 3-time major winner is sponsored by NetJets. NetJets flies various other tour players around in their private jets including Dustin Johnson, John Rahm and Justin Thomas.

Payne Stewart*

In 1999, the sports world was shaken and saddened when Payne Stewart passed away in a plane crash.

Stewart was onboard his Learjet 35 flying from Orlando to Dallas. The cabin lost pressure causing the two pilots and four passengers (including Stewart) to suffer from oxygen deprivation. The plan went off path and crashed in South Dakota.

How Much Does it Cost to Fly in a Private Jet?

According to private jet charter company Air Charter Service, for a smaller private jet that fits 4-6 passengers, it will cost between $1,300-$3,000 per flying hour.

For a midsize jet that seats up to nine passengers, the price will be between $4,000-$8,000.

Larger private jets that seat between 14 to 19 passengers can cost between $8,600-$13,000 per flying hour.

Final Thoughts On Golfers Private Jets

To own a private jet is extremely costly and to fly on one hourly is pretty steep-priced as well. PGA Tour players have to perform well to keep up with costs of owning a jet.

Many who live in close areas even tend to ride together. Be sure to comment in the queries section.

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