Curtis Strange finished -14 and took 17% of the purse. That $160,000 is worth about $449,514 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1988 Memorial Tournament purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 59% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1988 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 | Curtis Strange | -14 | $140,000 | $160,000 +14% |
| T2 | David Frost | -12 | $84,000 | $78,220 |
| T2 | Hale Irwin | -12 | $84,000 | $78,220 |
| T4 | Andrew Magee | -6 | $39,115 | |
| T4 | John Huston | -6 | $39,115 | |
| T6 | Greg Norman | -5 | $26,038 | $26,881 |
| T6 | Lanny Wadkins | -5 | $26,038 | $26,881 |
| T6 | Payne Stewart | -5 | $26,038 | $26,881 |
| T6 | Peter Jacobsen | -5 | $26,038 | $26,881 |
| T6 | Jay Haas | -5 | $26,038 | $26,881 |
| T6 | Scott Hoch | -5 | $26,038 | $26,881 |
| T12 | Paul Azinger | -4 | $18,970 | |
| T12 | Chip Beck | -4 | $18,970 | |
| T12 | Nick Price | -4 | $18,970 | |
| T15 | Scott Verplank | -3 | $15,833 | |
| T15 | Fred Couples | -3 | $15,833 | |
| T15 | Tom Kite | -3 | $15,833 | |
| 18 | Mike Hulbert | -2 | $14,060 | |
| T19 | John Mahaffey | -1 | $12,283 | |
| T19 | Bobby Wadkins | -1 | $12,283 | |
| T19 | Fuzzy Zoeller | -1 | $12,283 | |
| T22 | D.A. Weibring | E | $8,978 | |
| T22 | Mark Wiebe | E | $8,978 | |
| T22 | Craig Stadler | E | $8,978 | |
| T22 | Steve Pate | E | $8,978 | |
| T22 | Larry Nelson | E | $8,978 | |
| T22 | Larry Mize | E | $8,978 | |
| T28 | Tom Purtzer | +1 | $6,758 | |
| T28 | Dave Rummells | +1 | $6,758 | |
| T28 | Mark McCumber | +1 | $6,758 | |
| T28 | Mark Calcavecchia | +1 | $6,758 | |
| T28 | Doug Tewell | +1 | $6,758 | |
| T33 | Roger Maltbie | +2 | $5,862 | |
| T33 | Scott Simpson | +2 | $5,862 | |
| T35 | Hal Sutton | +3 | $4,864 | $5,012 |
| T35 | Gary Koch | +3 | $4,864 | $5,012 |
| T35 | Donnie Hammond | +3 | $4,864 | $5,012 |
| T35 | John Cook | +3 | $4,864 | $5,012 |
| T35 | Jay Don Blake | +3 | $4,864 | $5,012 |
| T35 | Ed Fiori | +3 | $4,864 | $5,012 |
| T41 | Tom Byrum | +4 | $3,837 | |
| T41 | Bruce Lietzke | +4 | $3,837 | |
| T41 | Clarence Rose | +4 | $3,837 | |
| T41 | Jeff Sluman | +4 | $3,837 | |
| T41 | J. C. Snead | +4 | $3,837 | |
| T41 | Aki Ohmachi | +4 | $3,837 | |
| T41 | Robert Wrenn | +4 | $3,837 | |
| T48 | Bill Sander | +5 | $2,977 | |
| T48 | Rocco Mediate | +5 | $2,977 | |
| T48 | David Canipe | +5 | $2,977 | |
| T48 | Ben Crenshaw | +5 | $2,977 | |
| T48 | Buddy Gardner | +5 | $2,977 | |
| T53 | Kenny Knox | +6 | $2,790 | $2,784 |
| T53 | Gil Morgan | +6 | $2,790 | $2,784 |
| T53 | Mark O'Meara | +6 | $2,790 | $2,784 |
| T53 | Joey Sindelar | +6 | $2,790 | $2,784 |
| T53 | Jim Hallet | +6 | $2,790 | $2,784 |
| T58 | Denis Watson | +7 | $2,693 | |
| T58 | Greg Ladehoff | +7 | $2,693 | |
| T58 | Wayne Levi | +7 | $2,693 | |
| T61 | Bob Tway | +8 | $2,628 | $2,648 |
| T61 | Don Pooley | +8 | $2,628 | $2,648 |
| T63 | Chris Perry | +9 | $2,598 | $2,603 |
| T63 | Howard Twitty | +9 | $2,598 | $2,603 |
| T63 | Fulton Allem | +9 | $2,598 | $2,603 |
| 66 | Sam Randolph | +10 | $2,552 | $2,570 +1% |
| T67 | Curt Byrum | +11 | $2,542 | |
| T67 | Dan Forsman | +11 | $2,542 | |
| 69 | Steve Jones | +12 | $2,505 | $2,515 |
| T70 | Johnny Miller | +13 | $2,500 | |
| T70 | Fred Wadsworth | +13 | $2,500 | |
| T70 | Richard Zokol | +13 | $2,500 | |
| 73 | Tim Simpson | +14 | $2,500 | |
| MC | Brian Tennyson | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Gene Sauers | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Simons | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Corey Pavin | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Nicklaus | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy North | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Mac O'Grady | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | John Inman | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Murphy | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Nakajima | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Nelford | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Lohr | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Davis Love III | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Chien-Soon Lu | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Morris Hatalsky | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Hallberg | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Fehr | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Glasson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | David Graham | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Hubert Green | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Ken Green | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Barr | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Carter | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Clampett | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Keith Clearwater | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Watson | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Thorpe | +11 | $0 | |
| WD | Roger Mackay | +11 | Not known | |
| WD | Jodie Mudd | +13 | Not known |
The Memorial Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1988 Memorial Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1988 Memorial Tournament get?
Curtis Strange won $160,000 from a $930,250 purse.
What was the 1988 Memorial Tournament purse?
$930,250.
How much did last place get at the 1988 Memorial Tournament?
The smallest check was $2,500, to Tim Simpson (73).
How many players made the cut at the 1988 Memorial Tournament?
73 players made the cut and finished, and 27 players missed it.