Tom Watson finished -8 and took 17% of the purse. That $60,000 is worth about $219,242 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1981 Masters Tournament purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 64% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1981 Masters Tournament prize money for every player
Final positions and prize money, with what the same untied position paid the year before.
| Pos | Player | To par | Last year | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Watson | -8 | $55,000 | $60,000 +9% |
| T2 | Johnny Miller | -6 | $30,500 | $30,500 |
| T2 | Jack Nicklaus | -6 | $30,500 | $30,500 |
| 4 | Greg Norman | -5 | $15,750 | $16,000 +2% |
| T5 | Jerry Pate | -4 | $13,200 | $12,667 |
| T5 | Tom Kite | -4 | $13,200 | $12,667 |
| 7 | David Graham | -3 | $11,167 | |
| T8 | Ben Crenshaw | -2 | $9,667 | |
| T8 | Ray Floyd | -2 | $9,667 | |
| T8 | John Mahaffey | -2 | $9,667 | |
| T11 | Hubert Green | -1 | $7,333 | |
| T11 | George Archer | -1 | $7,333 | |
| T11 | Peter Jacobsen | -1 | $7,333 | |
| T11 | Bruce Lietzke | -1 | $7,333 | |
| T15 | Bob Gilder | E | $5,500 | |
| T15 | Gay Brewer | E | $5,500 | |
| T15 | Jim Simons | E | $5,500 | |
| T15 | Gary Player | E | $5,500 | |
| T19 | Don Pooley | +1 | $3,990 | $4,500 |
| T19 | Curtis Strange | +1 | $3,990 | $4,500 |
| T21 | Lanny Wadkins | +2 | $3,600 | |
| T21 | John Cook | +2 | $3,600 | |
| T21 | Gil Morgan | +2 | $3,600 | |
| T21 | Calvin Peete | +2 | $3,600 | |
| T25 | Hale Irwin | +3 | $2,700 | |
| T25 | Wayne Levi | +3 | $2,700 | |
| T25 | Jim Colbert | +3 | $2,700 | |
| T28 | Gibby Gilbert | +4 | $2,350 | |
| T28 | Lon Hinkle | +4 | $2,350 | |
| T28 | Sandy Lyle | +4 | $2,350 | |
| T31 | Jay Haas | +5 | $2,013 | |
| T31 | Bruce Devlin | +5 | $2,013 | |
| T31 | Dave Stockton | +5 | $2,013 | |
| T31 | Jack Renner | +5 | $2,013 | |
| T35 | Mike Sullivan | +6 | $1,800 | |
| T35 | Jay Sigel | +6 | Not known | |
| T37 | Bill Rogers | +7 | $1,617 | |
| T37 | Keith Fergus | +7 | $1,617 | |
| T37 | Scott Hoch | +7 | $1,617 | |
| T40 | Charles Coody | +8 | $1,500 | |
| T40 | Howard Twitty | +8 | $1,500 | |
| T40 | Robert Lewis | +8 | Not known | |
| T43 | Fuzzy Zoeller | +9 | $1,500 | |
| T43 | Craig Stadler | +9 | $1,500 | |
| T45 | Norio Suzuki | +12 | $1,500 | |
| T45 | Isao Aoki | +12 | $1,500 | |
| 47 | Jim Holtgrieve | +13 | Not known | |
| 48 | Tommy Aaron | +15 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| MC | Seve Ballesteros | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy Bean | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Casper | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Fiori | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Ford | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Elder | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Joe Hager | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Dan Halldorson | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Phillip Hancock | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Hayes | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Joe Inman | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Goalby | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Kratzert | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Morley | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Nelson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Newton | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Pfeil | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy North | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Arnold Palmer | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Pat McGowan | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Simpson | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | J. C. Snead | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Sam Snead | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Sneed | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Reid | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Art Wall Jr. | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Walzel | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Wadkins | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Hal Sutton | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Tewell | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Trevino | +10 | $0 |
Masters Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1981 Masters Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1981 Masters Tournament get?
Tom Watson won $60,000 from a $362,587 purse.
What was the 1981 Masters Tournament purse?
$362,587.
How much did last place get at the 1981 Masters Tournament?
The smallest check was $1,500, to Tommy Aaron (48).
How many players made the cut at the 1981 Masters Tournament?
48 players made the cut and finished, and 31 players missed it.