Total PGA Tour purse by season
Dollars of the day. Click a bar for that season.
The same purses in 2026 dollars
Adjusted with the consumer price index. Even after inflation, purses grew 60%. Golf money in today's dollars →
Top earner each season
Labeled each time a new player takes the money title. Select a bar for that player.
Players earning over $1 million
The $5 million and $10 million counts are in the table at the bottom of this page.
Biggest single check each season
The price of a made cut
The average smallest paycheck per event each season: roughly what the last player to make the cut takes home. The full story →
Every season at a glance
DP World Tour and LIV Golf seasons
Money lists for the other tours, in US dollars and kept separate from the PGA Tour.
Money-list leaders, 1958–2000
The money-list leader's official prize money each season, in dollars of the day. The table adds 2026 dollars. Golf money in today's dollars →
| Season | Money-list leader | Prize money | In 2026 dollars | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Tiger Woods | $9,188,321 | $17,727,940 | 58 |
| 1999 | Tiger Woods | $6,616,585 | $13,197,125 | 57 |
| 1998 | David Duval | $2,591,031 | $5,281,023 | 54 |
| 1997 | Tiger Woods | $2,066,833 | $4,277,997 | 56 |
| 1996 | Tom Lehman | $1,780,159 | $3,770,766 | 54 |
| 1995 | Greg Norman | $1,654,959 | $3,608,320 | 55 |
| 1994 | Nick Price | $1,499,927 | $3,362,048 | 54 |
| 1993 | Nick Price | $1,478,557 | $3,400,562 | 52 |
| 1992 | Fred Couples | $1,344,188 | $3,182,776 | 53 |
| 1991 | Corey Pavin | $979,430 | $2,389,341 | 53 |
| 1990 | Greg Norman | $1,165,477 | $2,963,615 | 53 |
| 1989 | Tom Kite | $1,395,278 | $3,739,479 | 54 |
| 1988 | Curtis Strange | $1,147,644 | $3,224,265 | 56 |
| 1987 | Curtis Strange | $925,941 | $2,707,476 | 56 |
| 1986 | Greg Norman | $653,296 | $1,980,258 | 55 |
| 1985 | Curtis Strange | $542,321 | $1,675,074 | 52 |
| 1984 | Tom Watson | $476,260 | $1,523,188 | 49 |
| 1983 | Hal Sutton | $426,668 | $1,423,266 | 50 |
| 1982 | Craig Stadler | $446,462 | $1,537,137 | 49 |
| 1981 | Tom Kite | $375,699 | $1,372,815 | 47 |
| 1980 | Tom Watson | $530,808 | $2,140,039 | 48 |
| 1979 | Tom Watson | $462,636 | $2,117,911 | 48 |
| 1978 | Tom Watson | $362,429 | $1,845,902 | 48 |
| 1977 | Tom Watson | $310,653 | $1,702,937 | 50 |
| 1976 | Jack Nicklaus | $266,438 | $1,555,520 | 49 |
| 1975 | Jack Nicklaus | $298,149 | $1,840,653 | 47 |
| 1974 | Johnny Miller | $353,021 | $2,378,677 | 48 |
| 1973 | Jack Nicklaus | $308,362 | $2,307,454 | 53 |
| 1972 | Jack Nicklaus | $320,542 | $2,546,776 | 53 |
| 1971 | Jack Nicklaus | $244,491 | $2,006,100 | 55 |
| 1970 | Lee Trevino | $157,037 | $1,343,834 | 51 |
| 1969 | Frank Beard | $175,223 | $1,587,002 | 53 |
| 1968 | Billy Casper | $205,168 | $1,959,718 | 48 |
| 1967 | Jack Nicklaus | $188,998 | $1,882,384 | 43 |
| 1966 | Billy Casper | $121,945 | $1,248,225 | 41 |
| 1965 | Jack Nicklaus | $140,752 | $1,484,173 | 43 |
| 1964 | Jack Nicklaus | $113,285 | $1,213,480 | 46 |
| 1963 | Arnold Palmer | $128,230 | $1,391,133 | 47 |
| 1962 | Arnold Palmer | $81,448 | $894,562 | 52 |
| 1961 | Gary Player | $64,540 | $717,355 | 51 |
| 1960 | Arnold Palmer | $80,968 | $909,586 | 46 |
| 1959 | Art Wall Jr. | $53,168 | $605,992 | 49 |
| 1958 | Arnold Palmer | $42,608 | $490,541 | 47 |