Woods back on top of Forbes list of highest-paid athletes

Tiger Woods is back on top of Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes.

The star golfer spent 11 straight years at No. 1 on the magazine’s list before falling to third in 2012. The magazine put him back in the top spot after he made $78.1 million over the last year from prize money, endorsements, appearance fees and golf course design work. Woods has enjoyed a resurgence in his play that has earned him over $13.1 million the past 12 months — double his total from the prior year.

Tennis star Roger Federer is second at $71.5 million while Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is third at $61.9 million.

LeBron James comes in fourth with $59.8 million and Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees rounds out the top five at $51 million.

Last year’s highest-paid athlete, Floyd Mayweather, is 14th.

David Beckham was No. 8 overall and the highest-ranked soccer player at $47.2 million.

New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was tops among the 27 baseball players on the list and No. 18 overall with $30.3 million.

Two women, both tennis players, made the list. Maria Sharapova ($29 million) came in at No. 22, and Li Na ($18.2 million) was 85th.