Ernie Els finished -5 and took 19% of the purse. That $320,000 is worth about $717,272 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1994 U.S. Open 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.
1994 U.S. Open 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 | Ernie Els | -5 | $290,000 | $320,000 +10% |
| T2 | Colin Montgomerie | -5 | $145,000 | $141,828 |
| T2 | Loren Roberts | -5 | $145,000 | $141,828 |
| 4 | Curtis Strange | -4 | $75,728 | |
| 5 | John Cook | -2 | $48,730 | $61,318 +26% |
| T6 | Clark Dennis | -1 | $49,485 | |
| T6 | Tom Watson | -1 | $49,485 | |
| T6 | Greg Norman | -1 | $49,485 | |
| T9 | Jeff Maggert | E | $37,180 | |
| T9 | Duffy Waldorf | E | $37,180 | |
| T9 | Jeff Sluman | E | $37,180 | |
| T9 | Frank Nobilo | E | $37,180 | |
| T13 | Jim McGovern | +1 | $29,767 | |
| T13 | David Edwards | +1 | $29,767 | |
| T13 | Scott Hoch | +1 | $29,767 | |
| T16 | Steve Lowery | +2 | $21,577 | $25,900 |
| T16 | Fred Couples | +2 | $21,577 | $25,900 |
| T18 | Seve Ballesteros | +3 | $22,478 | |
| T18 | Hale Irwin | +3 | $22,478 | |
| T18 | Scott Verplank | +3 | $22,478 | |
| T21 | Sam Torrance | +4 | $19,464 | |
| T21 | Steve Pate | +4 | $19,464 | |
| T23 | Kirk Triplett | +5 | $17,223 | |
| T23 | Bernhard Langer | +5 | $17,223 | |
| T25 | Chip Beck | +6 | $14,532 | $14,706 |
| T25 | Mike Springer | +6 | $14,532 | $14,706 |
| T25 | Craig Parry | +6 | $14,532 | $14,706 |
| T28 | Jack Nicklaus | +8 | $11,514 | |
| T28 | Masashi Ozaki | +8 | $11,514 | |
| T28 | Lennie Clements | +8 | $11,514 | |
| T28 | Davis Love III | +8 | $11,514 | |
| T28 | Jim Furyk | +8 | $11,514 | |
| T33 | Mark Carnevale | +9 | $11,052 | $9,578 |
| T33 | Tom Lehman | +9 | $11,052 | $9,578 |
| T33 | Tom Kite | +9 | $11,052 | $9,578 |
| T33 | Brad Faxon | +9 | $11,052 | $9,578 |
| T33 | Ben Crenshaw | +9 | $11,052 | $9,578 |
| T33 | Fulton Allem | +9 | $11,052 | $9,578 |
| T39 | Brandt Jobe | +10 | $8,006 | |
| T39 | Bradley Hughes | +10 | $8,006 | |
| T39 | Gordon Brand Jr. | +10 | $8,006 | |
| T39 | Peter Baker | +10 | $8,006 | |
| 43 | Fran Quinn | +11 | $7,222 | |
| T44 | Don Walsworth | +12 | $6,595 | |
| T44 | Fred Funk | +12 | $6,595 | |
| T44 | Paul Goydos | +12 | $6,595 | |
| T47 | Tim Dunlavey | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T47 | David Berganio Jr | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T47 | Barry Lane | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T47 | Mike Emery Jr. | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T47 | Jim Gallagher, Jr. | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T47 | Wayne Levi | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T47 | Olin Browne | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T47 | Phil Mickelson | +13 | $5,105 | |
| T55 | Scott Simpson | +14 | $4,325 | |
| T55 | Tommy Armour III | +14 | $4,325 | |
| T55 | Hugh Royer III | +14 | $4,325 | |
| T58 | Steven Richardson | +15 | $4,105 | |
| T58 | Fuzzy Zoeller | +15 | $4,105 | |
| T60 | Doug Martin | +17 | $3,967 | |
| T60 | Dave Rummells | +17 | $3,967 | |
| T62 | Mike Smith | +18 | $5,940 | $3,802 |
| T62 | Emlyn Aubrey | +18 | $5,940 | $3,802 |
| T62 | Ed Humenik | +18 | $5,940 | $3,802 |
| MC | John Huston | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Massy Kuramoto | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Janzen | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Brian Kamm | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Gamez | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Garner | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Wayne Grady | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Ken Green | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Haas | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Hallberg | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Nolan Henke | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Fehr | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Ferenz | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Friend | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | David Frost | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | P.H. Horgan III | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Hulbert | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Ian Baker-Finch | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Bart Bryant | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Bryant | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Calcavecchia | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Don Blake | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Michael Bradley | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Britton | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Brooks | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | John Daly | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Duke Delcher | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Nick Faldo | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Trevor Dodds | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | John Adams | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Buddy Alexander | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Brian Craig | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Mick Soli | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Craig Stadler | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Payne Stewart | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Tway | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Howard Twitty | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Sullivan | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Harry Taylor | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Thorpe | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Ian Woosnam | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | José María Olazábal | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Marty Schiene | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Tim Simpson | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Sam Randolph | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Arnold Palmer | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Corey Pavin | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Chris Perry | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Nick Price | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Mayfair | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | John Mahaffey | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Lye | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Baker Maddera | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Johnny Miller | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Mize | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Gil Morgan | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Nelson | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy North | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark O'Meara | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | David Ogrin | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Flesch | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Arden Knoll | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Glen Day | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Jimmy Green | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Frank Lickliter II | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Mielke | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Mason | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | John Stacey | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | John Morse | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Wurtz | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Small | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Willy Burnitz | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Eric Johnson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Paul Stankowski | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Javier Sanchez | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Michael Weeks | +24 | $0 | |
| MC | Costantino Rocca | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | John Harris | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Medlin | +19 | $0 | |
| MC | Craig Barlow | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Darren Clarke | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Douglas Duchateau | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Joey Ferrari | +19 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Grant | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Chris Haarlow | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Joakim Haeggman | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Todd Barranger | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Brent Studer | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Randy Sonnier | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Packard Dewitt | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Hajime Meshiai | +6 | $0 | |
| DQ | Michael Allen | +8 | Not known | |
| WD | Chris Patton | +5 | Not known | |
| WD | Rocco Mediate | +12 | Not known | |
| WD | David Lundstrom | +18 | Not known |
U.S. Open winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1994 U.S. Open payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1994 U.S. Open get?
Ernie Els won $320,000 from a $1,700,000 purse.
What was the 1994 U.S. Open purse?
$1,700,000.
How much did last place get at the 1994 U.S. Open?
The smallest check was $3,802, to Ed Humenik (T62).
How many players made the cut at the 1994 U.S. Open?
64 players made the cut and finished, and 91 players missed it.