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Season · 1979

1979 PGA Tour money list

Tom Watson led the 1979 PGA Tour money list with $462,636, about $2,117,911 in 2026 dollars. The tour played 48 events for $12,039,625 in total purses.

$463KMoney-list leader
$12.0MTotal purses
48Events

1979 PGA Tour money list

The top 10, from the published season money list. Official prize money in 1979 dollars, with 2026 dollars in the table.

RankPlayerWinsOfficial prize moneyIn 2026 dollars
1Tom Watson5$462,636$2,117,911
2Larry Nelson2$281,022$1,286,496
3Lon Hinkle2$247,693$1,133,919
4Lee Trevino1$238,732$1,092,896
5Ben Crenshaw1$236,770$1,083,914
6Bill Rogers0$230,500$1,055,211
7Andy Bean1$208,253$953,366
8Bruce Lietzke1$198,439$908,438
9Fuzzy Zoeller2$196,951$901,626
10Lanny Wadkins2$195,710$895,945

The 1979 majors and The Players

TournamentChampionPurseWinner's share
Tournament Players ChampionshipLanny Wadkins$440,000$72,000
Masters TournamentFuzzy Zoeller$299,625$50,000
U.S. OpenHale Irwin$325,000$50,000
The Open ChampionshipSeve Ballesteros$328,972$31,836
PGA ChampionshipDavid Graham$350,600$60,000

1979 PGA Tour schedule and purses

Every event on the season schedule, with its winner and total purse.

DateTournamentWinnerPurse
Jan 14Bob Hope Desert ClassicJohn Mahaffey$300,000
Jan 22Phoenix OpenBen Crenshaw$250,000
Jan 28Andy Williams-San Diego Open InvitationalFuzzy Zoeller$250,000
Feb 4Bing Crosby National Pro-AmLon Hinkle$300,000
Feb 11Hawaiian OpenHubert Green$300,000
Feb 18Joe Garagiola-Tucson OpenBruce Lietzke$250,000
Feb 25Glen Campbell-Los Angeles OpenLanny Wadkins$250,000
Mar 4Bay Hill Citrus ClassicBob Byman$250,000
Mar 11Jackie Gleason-Inverrary ClassicLarry Nelson$300,000
Mar 18Doral-Eastern OpenMark McCumber$250,000
Mar 25Tournament Players ChampionshipLanny Wadkins$440,000
Apr 1Sea Pines Heritage ClassicTom Watson$300,000
Apr 8Greater Greensboro OpenRay Floyd$250,000
Apr 15Masters TournamentFuzzy Zoeller$299,625
Apr 15Magnolia ClassicBobby Walzel$50,000
Apr 22MONY Tournament of ChampionsTom Watson$300,000
Apr 22Tallahassee OpenChi-Chi Rodríguez$100,000
Apr 29First NBC New Orleans OpenHubert Green$250,000
May 6Houston OpenWayne Levi$300,000
May 13Byron Nelson Golf ClassicTom Watson$300,000
May 20Colonial National InvitationAl Geiberger$300,000
May 27Memorial TournamentTom Watson$300,000
Jun 3Kemper OpenJerry McGee$350,000
Jun 10Atlanta ClassicAndy Bean$300,000
Jun 17U.S. OpenHale Irwin$325,000
Jun 24Canadian OpenLee Trevino$350,000
Jul 1Danny Thomas Memphis ClassicGil Morgan$300,000
Jul 8Western OpenLarry Nelson$300,000
Jul 15Greater Milwaukee OpenCalvin Peete$200,000
Jul 21The Open Championship UnofficialSeve Ballesteros£155,000
Jul 22Ed McMahon-Jaycees Quad Cities OpenD.A. Weibring$200,000
Jul 29IVB-Philadelphia Golf ClassicLou Graham$250,000
Aug 5PGA ChampionshipDavid Graham$350,000
Aug 12Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford OpenJerry McGee$300,000
Aug 19Manufacturers Hanover Westchester ClassicJack Renner$400,000
Aug 26Colgate Hall of Fame ClassicTom Watson$250,000
Sep 2B.C. OpenHoward Twitty$275,000
Sep 9American Optical ClassicLou Graham$250,000
Sep 16Buick-Goodwrench OpenJohn Fought$150,000
Sep 23Anheuser-Busch Golf ClassicJohn Fought$300,000
Sep 30World Series of GolfLon Hinkle$400,000
Oct 7San Antonio Texas OpenLou Graham$250,000
Oct 14Southern OpenEd Fiori$200,000
Oct 21Pensacola OpenCurtis Strange$200,000
Oct 28Walt Disney World National Team ChampionshipGeorge Burns / Ben Crenshaw$250,000
Sep 16Ryder Cup UnofficialNot knownNot known
Nov 11World Cup UnofficialHale Irwin / John MahaffeyNot known
Nov 11World Cup Individual Trophy UnofficialHale IrwinNot known
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