Don Pooley finished -16 and took 16% of the purse. That $140,000 is worth about $409,364 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1987 Memorial Tournament purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 61% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1987 Memorial 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 | Don Pooley | -16 | $100,000 | $140,000 +40% |
| 2 | Curt Byrum | -13 | $60,000 | $84,000 +40% |
| T3 | Chip Beck | -12 | $32,225 | $40,443 |
| T3 | Scott Hoch | -12 | $32,225 | $40,443 |
| T3 | Denis Watson | -12 | $32,225 | $40,443 |
| T6 | David Frost | -11 | $26,038 | |
| T6 | Sandy Lyle | -11 | $26,038 | |
| T6 | Larry Nelson | -11 | $26,038 | |
| T9 | John Mahaffey | -10 | $19,480 | |
| T9 | Scott Simpson | -10 | $19,480 | |
| T9 | Craig Stadler | -10 | $19,480 | |
| T9 | John Cook | -10 | $19,480 | |
| T9 | Hal Sutton | -10 | $19,480 | |
| T14 | Tom Watson | -9 | $10,940 | $14,950 |
| T14 | Ken Green | -9 | $10,940 | $14,950 |
| T14 | Larry Mize | -9 | $10,940 | $14,950 |
| T17 | Dave Rummells | -8 | $7,908 | $12,222 |
| T17 | Dan Pohl | -8 | $7,908 | $12,222 |
| T17 | Dave Barr | -8 | $7,908 | $12,222 |
| T17 | D.A. Weibring | -8 | $7,908 | $12,222 |
| T21 | Tim Simpson | -7 | $9,660 | |
| T21 | Joey Sindelar | -7 | $9,660 | |
| T21 | Mac O'Grady | -7 | $9,660 | |
| T24 | Fred Couples | -6 | $7,793 | |
| T24 | Bruce Lietzke | -6 | $7,793 | |
| T24 | Fred Wadsworth | -6 | $7,793 | |
| T27 | Hale Irwin | -5 | $6,700 | |
| T27 | Buddy Gardner | -5 | $6,700 | |
| T27 | Greg Norman | -5 | $6,700 | |
| T30 | Payne Stewart | -4 | $5,769 | |
| T30 | Donnie Hammond | -4 | $5,769 | |
| T30 | Mark Hayes | -4 | $5,769 | |
| T30 | Keith Clearwater | -4 | $5,769 | |
| T30 | Willie Wood | -4 | $5,769 | |
| T35 | Lanny Wadkins | -3 | $4,864 | |
| T35 | Ben Crenshaw | -3 | $4,864 | |
| T35 | Curtis Strange | -3 | $4,864 | |
| T35 | Johnny Miller | -3 | $4,864 | |
| T39 | Mark McCumber | -2 | $2,668 | $3,980 |
| T39 | Gene Sauers | -2 | $2,668 | $3,980 |
| T39 | Sam Randolph | -2 | $2,668 | $3,980 |
| T39 | Wayne Levi | -2 | $2,668 | $3,980 |
| T39 | Jay Haas | -2 | $2,668 | $3,980 |
| T39 | Bobby Wadkins | -2 | $2,668 | $3,980 |
| T39 | Ian Woosnam | -2 | $2,668 | $3,980 |
| T46 | Jim Thorpe | -1 | $3,021 | |
| T46 | José María Olazábal | -1 | $3,021 | |
| T46 | David Graham | -1 | $3,021 | |
| T46 | Tom Kite | -1 | $3,021 | |
| T46 | Clarence Rose | -1 | $3,021 | |
| T46 | Calvin Peete | -1 | $3,021 | |
| T46 | Jodie Mudd | -1 | $3,021 | |
| 53 | Anders Forsbrand | E | $2,790 | |
| T54 | Ronnie Black | +1 | $2,710 | |
| T54 | Howard Clark | +1 | $2,710 | |
| T54 | Kenny Knox | +1 | $2,710 | |
| T54 | Roger Maltbie | +1 | $2,710 | |
| T54 | Blaine McCallister | +1 | $2,710 | |
| T54 | Steve Pate | +1 | $2,710 | |
| T54 | Jim Simons | +1 | $2,710 | |
| T61 | Bill Glasson | +2 | $1,585 | $2,628 |
| T61 | Mark Calcavecchia | +2 | $1,585 | $2,628 |
| T63 | J. C. Snead | +3 | $2,598 | |
| T63 | Tom Purtzer | +3 | $2,598 | |
| 65 | Billy Kratzert | +4 | $1,550 | $2,575 +66% |
| T66 | George Burns | +5 | $2,552 | |
| T66 | Jack Nicklaus | +5 | $2,552 | |
| 68 | Ernie Gonzalez | +6 | $2,530 | |
| T69 | Rodger Davis | +7 | $2,505 | |
| T69 | Bob Murphy | +7 | $2,505 | |
| T69 | Larry Rinker | +7 | $2,505 | |
| T72 | Pat McGowan | +8 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| T72 | Dan Forsman | +8 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| T74 | Lennie Clements | +9 | $2,500 | |
| T74 | Ossie Moore | +9 | $2,500 | |
| 76 | Hubert Green | +11 | $1,500 | $2,500 +67% |
| 77 | Tom Byrum | +12 | $2,500 | |
| MC | Phil Blackmar | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Gordon Brand Jr. | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Danny Edwards | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Elkington | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Fabel | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Fehr | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Fiori | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Ray Floyd | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Dan Halldorson | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Peter Jacobsen | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Hulbert | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Rocco Mediate | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy North | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark O'Meara | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Aki Ohmachi | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Rogers | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Reid | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Corey Pavin | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Kenny Perry | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Sullivan | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Tony Sills | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Sluman | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Mats Lanner | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Fulton Allem | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Tway | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Howard Twitty | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Verplank | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Fuzzy Zoeller | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Hallet | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Wiebe | +4 | $0 |
The Memorial Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1987 Memorial Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1987 Memorial Tournament get?
Don Pooley won $140,000 from a $850,000 purse.
What was the 1987 Memorial Tournament purse?
$850,000.
How much did last place get at the 1987 Memorial Tournament?
The smallest check was $2,500, to Tom Byrum (77).
How many players made the cut at the 1987 Memorial Tournament?
77 players made the cut and finished, and 30 players missed it.