When Ernie Els explained why he would miss the Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain that ended the 2007 European Tour, he uttered a phrase that will go down in lore. “The end of the year is when you get the wheelbarrow out,” he said. “You have got to cash in.”

The South African was alluding to the appearance fees to play in events in the Far East, such as the tournament that gets under way today at the Sheshan International Golf Club. Leading players have been filling their barrows with greenbacks from two of the world’s largest banks – Barclays, at the Singapore Open, and HSBC in Shanghai.

Professional golfers describe themselves as “independent contractors”, a term that conjures an image of the local handyman. Yet how many plumbers can demand anything up to $1 million (about £475,000) and beyond just for walking through the door? “If you knew how much they were paying me, you wouldn’t ask that question,” a top player responded to a query this year as to why he was crisscrossing the world. Another, Padraig Harrington, the Open champion and an accountant by training, said that one tournament could cover his travelling expenses for a year.

The appearance-fee king is Tiger Woods, said to command a fee of at least $3 million every time he tees it up outside the United States. Woods has raised the profile of tournaments in Germany, Dubai, Thailand, China and New Zealand and seems genuinely to believe that he has a responsibility to play around the world.

Others have been known to take the money and run, although Phil Mickelson is one of those who, until now, has resisted the urge to travel. The American cites a young family as his reason, but perhaps the $45.3 million the world No 2 has won in 15 years – plus millions accrued in off-course earnings – have helped. Or perhaps it was a lack of curiosity with all things outside the United States.

The PGA Tour in the US, which does not allow appearance fees, has shortened its season this year (with prompting from Woods and Mickelson), and the 37-year-old American is able to take advantage before his season begins in January.

Without any hint of irony, Mickelson said that he believed it was his mission to promote the game. “I think it would help the globalisation of golf if more top players played more international events,” he said. “I’m making an effort to help globalise golf but also giving my kids a global education.”

It will be interesting to see where he turns up next year. He will, after all, have more time on his hands – and the money will be good.

In brief

–– Rheumatism has forced Jose Maria Olazabal to pull out of Spain’s team to play at this month’s World Cup in China.

–– Kent-based Karen Stupples and Catriona Matthew, of Scotland, are the only British players in an elite field for the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions in Alabama that starts today.