LAFAYETTE, La. (AP)—Tennis player Chanda Rubin’s house burned during an intense thunderstorm and lightning was a likely cause, Lafayette fire officials said Thursday.

The 1990s tennis star was the only person in the house and got out safely after alarms alerted her to the fire shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, fire department spokesman Alton Trahan said Thursday.

“The whole roof and the attic and portions of the second story are completely gone,” Trahan said. “The first story is OK. There’s a lot of water damage on the first floor, obviously.”

He said lightning was particularly intense in Rubin’s neighborhood and may have touched off the fire, which started in the attic.

“It’s pretty much totaled,” Trahan said. “The first floor is probably the only portion of the home she’ll be able to salvage some of the contents.”

Numerous calls from the alarm system, Rubin and neighbors came within a few minutes of each other, starting at 9:07 p.m., Assistant Chief Jerry Delhomme said.

Fire Chief Robert Benoit said the first call was from Rubin, who said she was awakened by noises.

“There was heavy rain and lightning and thunder,” Benoit said. “She walked outside and could see a little smoke at the top of her roof.

“When we got there, fire was through the roof. It took about 4 1/2 hours to get the fire completely out.”

Rubin, 34, won seven singles titles on the WTA Tour and reached as high as No. 6 in the rankings in 1996. Her deepest run at a Grand Slam came that year, when she reached the semifinals at the Australian Open.

She was unseeded but won the Eastbourne International tournament in 2002. Her last singles titles were in Eastbourne and Madrid in 2003, according to the WTA website.

She withdrew from a half-dozen tournaments this year because of a variety of injuries. She won only one match in the seven events she did appear in.

Who made the most in 2010? Hint: the hydrant didn't hurt By Jay Busbee

Golf Digest has released its annual list of the top-50 earners in golf for 2010, and the name at the top of the list isn't exactly a surprise. What's shocking is the fact that he took a $48 million pay cut and still led the pack.

In 2009, Tiger Woods earned $121.9 million from endorsements, appearance fees and on-course winnings. This year, his earnings "plummeted" to $74.2 million. Interestingly, only about $2 million of that was from his play on the course. (He also settled his divorce for a figure in the range of $100 million; his wallet is taking quite the hit these days, relatively speaking.)

Right behind Woods, in the rankings, at least? Phil Mickelson, who more than doubled Woods' earnings on the course but earned about half off the course. Total: $40.2 million. The rest of the top 5 haven't swung a meaningful golf swing in years, perhaps decades:Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus. (The third member of that trifecta, Gary Player, comes in at No. 8.)

Jim Furyk was the first guy to play himself into the top 10 at No. 6 and not just rely on off-course earnings; winning the $10 million Tour Championship will do that for ya. Mr. No. 1, Lee Westwood, ranks ninth.

So what does it take to get to the top 50? A mere $4.8 million. That's what Michelle Wie earned in 2010, $4 million of which came from endorsements. Something to shoot for, everybody!

Read the full list here ... and try not to cry at what some of the names on that list are earning.

’90s tennis star Chanda Rubin’s house burns

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP)—Tennis player Chanda Rubin’s house burned during an intense thunderstorm and lightning was a likely cause, Lafayette fire officials said Thursday.

  The 1990s tennis star was the only person in the house and got out safely after alarms alerted her to the fire shortly after 9 p.m. Wednesday, fire department spokesman Alton Trahan said Thursday.

  “The whole roof and the attic and portions of the second story are completely gone,” Trahan said. “The first story is OK. There’s a lot of water damage on the first floor, obviously.”

  He said lightning was particularly intense in Rubin’s neighborhood and may have touched off the fire, which started in the attic.

  “It’s pretty much totaled,” Trahan said. “The first floor is probably the only portion of the home she’ll be able to salvage some of the contents.”

  Numerous calls from the alarm system, Rubin and neighbors came within a few minutes of each other, starting at 9:07 p.m., Assistant Chief Jerry Delhomme said.

  Fire Chief Robert Benoit said the first call was from Rubin, who said she was awakened by noises.

  “There was heavy rain and lightning and thunder,” Benoit said. “She walked outside and could see a little smoke at the top of her roof.

  “When we got there, fire was through the roof. It took about 4 1/2 hours to get the fire completely out.”

  Rubin, 34, won seven singles titles on the WTA Tour and reached as high as No. 6 in the rankings in 1996. Her deepest run at a Grand Slam came that year, when she reached the semifinals at the Australian Open.

  She was unseeded but won the Eastbourne International tournament in 2002. Her last singles titles were in Eastbourne and Madrid in 2003, according to the WTA website.

  She withdrew from a half-dozen tournaments this year because of a variety of injuries. She won only one match in the seven events she did appear in.