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PGA Tour legend · 1980–1999

Denis Watson career earnings

Official PGA Tour prize money on record: $1,288,621 from 16 seasons (1980–1996), worth about $3,886,008 in 2026 dollars. Prize money for his other seasons isn't published in our sources, so his full career total is not known.

$1.3MKnown prize money
$3.9MIn 2026 dollars
0Majors won

Denis Watson's prize money by season

Denis Watson's official prize money in the 16 seasons with published figures, 1980–1996. The chart shows dollars of the day. The table adds each season in 2026 dollars.

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K$500K80818283848586878889909192939496
SeasonMoney listOfficial prize moneyIn 2026 dollars
1996No. 266$12,118$25,669
1994No. 285$4,250$9,526
1993No. 132$111,977$257,538
1992No. 219$16,105$38,134
1991No. 213$17,749$43,299
1990No. 182$43,013$109,375
1989No. 240$3,959$10,610
1988No. 148$51,239$143,954
1987No. 43$231,074$675,667
1986No. 129$59,453$180,213
1985No. 48$155,845$481,360
1984No. 4$408,562$1,306,674
1983No. 88$59,284$197,758
1982No. 76$59,090$203,443
1981No. 89$49,153$179,606
1980No. 195$5,750$23,182

Denis Watson at the majors and The Players

Denis Watson's finishes in golf's biggest events, with the prize money wherever it was published.

YearTournamentFinishPrize moneyIn 2026 dollars
1999John Deere ClassicWDNot known—
1998Buick ClassicWDNot known—
1997LaCantera Texas OpenMC$0—
1996Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile ClassicMC$0—
1996LaCantera Texas OpenT66$2,424$5,135
1996Las Vegas InvitationalMC$0—
1996Quad City ClassicT52$2,744$5,812
1996Bell Canadian OpenMC$0—
1996Canon Greater Hartford OpenMC$0—
1994Southwestern Bell ColonialMC$0—
1994GTE Byron Nelson Golf ClassicMC$0—
1994Shell Houston OpenMC$0—
1994MCI Heritage Golf ClassicMC$0—
1994Freeport-McMoRan ClassicMC$0—
1994The Players Championship85$4,250$9,526
1994Nestle InvitationalMC$0—
1994Honda ClassicMC$0—
1994Nissan Los Angeles OpenMC$0—
1994AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AmMC$0—
1994Phoenix OpenMC$0—
1993Las Vegas InvitationalMC$0—
1993H.E.B. Texas OpenT54$2,300$5,290
1993Canadian OpenT30$6,210$14,283
1993Sprint Western OpenMC$0—
1993Canon Greater Hartford Open77$1,860$4,278
1993Buick ClassicWDNot known—
1993Southwestern Bell ColonialMC$0—
1993GTE Byron Nelson Golf ClassicMC$0—
1993KMart Greater Greensboro OpenMC$0—
1993MCI Heritage Golf ClassicMC$0—
1993Freeport-McMoRan Golf ClassicT75$1,880$4,324
1993The Players ChampionshipT52$5,771$13,274
1993Nestle InvitationalT45$2,803$6,446
1993Honda ClassicDQNot known—
1992Las Vegas InvitationalT64$2,743$6,495
1992Canadian OpenT29$6,500$15,391
1992Canon Greater Hartford OpenMC$0—
1992U.S. OpenWDNot known—
1992Southwestern Bell Colonial77$2,418$5,725
1992GTE Byron Nelson Golf ClassicT55$2,464$5,834
1992BellSouth ClassicWDNot known—
1992Shell Houston OpenMC$0—
1992MCI Heritage Golf ClassicMC$0—
1991Hardee's Golf ClassicMC$0—
1991Canon Greater Hartford OpenT68$2,030$4,952
1991Buick ClassicT63$2,130$5,196
1991Southwestern Bell ColonialT72$2,340$5,708
1991MCI Heritage Golf ClassicMC$0—
1991The Players ChampionshipMC$0—
1991USF&G ClassicMC$0—
1991Nestle InvitationalT70$1,980$4,830
1991Shearson Lehman Brothers OpenMC$0—
1991Bob Hope Chrysler ClassicMC$0—
1991Phoenix OpenMC$0—
1991United Hawaiian OpenT62$2,310$5,635
1990Las Vegas InvitationalMC$0—
1990H.E.B. Texas OpenMC$0—
1990Canon Greater Hartford OpenMC$0—
1990Buick ClassicMC$0—
1990Centel Western OpenWDNot known—
1990Southwestern Bell ColonialT51$2,353$5,984
1990The Players ChampionshipMC$0—
1989Southwestern Bell ColonialMC$0—
1989MCI Heritage Golf ClassicMC$0—
1989The Players ChampionshipMC$0—
1989Nestle InvitationalWDNot known—
1989Honda ClassicMC$0—
1988PGA ChampionshipT48$2,231$6,269
1988U.S. OpenMC$0—
1988Memorial TournamentT58$2,693$7,567
1988Colonial National InvitationT64$1,590$4,467
1988Panasonic Las Vegas InvitationalT46$3,778$10,614
1988MCI Heritage Golf ClassicT64$1,456$4,091
1988KMart Greater Greensboro OpenMC$0—
1988The Players ChampionshipMC$0—
1988Hertz Bay Hill ClassicT67$1,530$4,298
1988Los Angeles OpenT17$10,150$28,516
1988Shearson Lehman Hutton Andy Williams OpenMC$0—
1988AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AmMC$0—
1988Phoenix OpenMC$0—
1987Beatrice Western OpenT71$1,576$4,608
1987PGA ChampionshipT40$3,400$9,942
1987Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford OpenT8$20,300$59,358
1987U.S. OpenT36$5,626$16,451
1987Memorial TournamentT3$40,443$118,257
1987Colonial National InvitationMC$0—
1987Byron Nelson Golf ClassicMC$0—
1987Panasonic Las Vegas InvitationalT8$36,250$105,996
1987MCI Heritage Golf ClassicT26$4,332$12,668
1987Masters TournamentT27$6,267$18,325
1987Tournament Players ChampionshipMC$0—
1987USF&G ClassicMC$0—
1987Hertz Bay Hill ClassicT20$7,240$21,170
1987Honda ClassicMC$0—
1987Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams OpenMC$0—
1987Hawaiian OpenT43$1,872$5,474
1987AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AmT54$1,362$3,983
1987Phoenix OpenMC$0—
1986Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile ClassicT12$11,870$35,980
1986PGA Championship71$1,550$4,698
1986Anheuser-Busch Golf ClassicT15$7,425$22,507
1986Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford OpenT12$13,300$40,315
1986Canadian OpenDQNot known—
1986U.S. OpenT12$11,870$35,980
1986Kemper OpenMC$0—
1986Memorial TournamentT57$1,625$4,926
1986Colonial National InvitationT43$1,788$5,420
1986Byron Nelson Golf ClassicT47$1,581$4,792
1986Panasonic Las Vegas InvitationalMC$0—
1986Masters TournamentMC$0—
1986Hertz Bay Hill ClassicMC$0—
1986Honda ClassicT54$1,145$3,471
1986Los Angeles OpenMC$0—
1985PGA ChampionshipT40$2,500$7,722
1985Canon Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford OpenDQNot known—
1985U.S. OpenT2$39,185$121,031
1985Memorial TournamentT41$2,500$7,722
1985MONY Tournament of Champions26$5,000$15,444
1985Sea Pines HeritageT49$1,024$3,163
1985Masters TournamentT53$1,800$5,560
1985Greater Greensboro OpenT37$1,760$5,436
1985Tournament Players ChampionshipT69$1,791$5,532
1985Panasonic Las Vegas InvitationalT18$13,300$41,080
1985Hertz Bay Hill ClassicMC$0—
1985Honda ClassicMC$0—
1984Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational1$162,000$518,113
1984PGA Championship33$3,600$11,514
1984Buick Open1$162,000$518,113
1984Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford OpenT54$896$2,866
1984Miller High Life QCOT14$3,200$10,234
1984Manufacturers Hanover Westchester ClassicMC$0—
1984Byron Nelson Golf ClassicT18$6,750$21,588
1984Sea Pines HeritageT15$6,400$20,469
1984Greater Greensboro OpenMC$0—
1984Tournament Players ChampionshipMC$0—
1984USF&G ClassicT9$10,000$31,982
1984Honda ClassicMC$0—
1984Los Angeles OpenMC$0—
1984Hawaiian OpenT22$4,800$15,351
1984Bob Hope ClassicMC$0—
1983Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity ClassicMC$0—
1983Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford OpenT53$698$2,328
1983Western OpenWDNot known—
1983Memorial TournamentT37$2,370$7,906
1983Colonial National InvitationT58$884$2,949
1983Houston Coca-Cola OpenT36$1,642$5,477
1983Byron Nelson Golf ClassicMC$0—
1983Sea Pines HeritageT39$1,435$4,787
1983Greater Greensboro OpenT2$35,200$117,419
1983Tournament Players ChampionshipMC$0—
1983Bay Hill ClassicMC$0—
1983Honda Inverrary ClassicT53$917$3,060
1982Texas OpenMC$0—
1982PGA ChampionshipMC$0—
1982Canadian OpenT32$2,253$7,756
1982The Open ChampionshipT15$9,544 £5,460$32,859
1982Western OpenMC$0—
1982Manufacturers Hanover Westchester ClassicDQNot known—
1982Memorial TournamentDQNot known—
1982Colonial National InvitationMC$0—
1982Byron Nelson Golf Classic—Not known—
1982USF&G ClassicMC$0—
1982Greater Greensboro OpenT7$9,038$31,115
1982Sea Pines HeritageMC$0—
1982Tournament Players ChampionshipT41$1,800$6,197
1982Honda Inverrary ClassicT11$8,480$29,196
1982Bay Hill ClassicT2$26,400$90,893
1982Glen Campbell-Los Angeles OpenT15$6,630$22,827
1981Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford OpenT74$561$2,050
1981Canadian OpenT16$6,588$24,071
1981Quad Cities OpenT24$1,548$5,655
1981Western OpenMC$0—
1980IVB-Golf ClassicMC$0—
1980Greater Greensboro OpenMC$0—

Denis Watson's PGA Tour wins

3 wins on record, 1984–1984, with each tournament's total purse. Our season schedules start in 1958.

SeasonTournamentPurse
1984Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational$1,122,500
1984NEC World Series of Golf$700,000
1984Buick Open$400,000

Denis Watson's wins, then and now

What each of Watson's major and Players wins paid, its value in 2026 dollars, and what the same title pays now.

Denis Watson's 2 wins in the majors and The Players paid $324K in total. In 2026 dollars, that is about $1.0M.

His first, the 1984 Buick Open, paid $162,000. His biggest check was $162,000, at the 1984 Buick Open.

Winning the same events today would pay $2.5M. That is 2 times as much, even after inflation.

YearTournamentPaidIn 2026 dollarsWinner's share now
1984Buick Open$162,000$518,113$1,260,000 (2024)
1984Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational$162,000$518,113$1,260,000 (2024)

Denis Watson earnings FAQ

How much did Denis Watson earn in his career?

Denis Watson earned $1,288,621 in official PGA Tour prize money in the 16 seasons with published figures. His full career total is not known.

What would Denis Watson's earnings be worth today?

About $3,886,008 in 2026 dollars, adjusting each season's $1,288,621 total for inflation with the consumer price index.

What was Denis Watson's best money-list finish?

No. 4.