Tom Watson finished -14 and took 18% of the purse. That $324,000 is worth about $686,303 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1996 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.
1996 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 | Tom Watson | -14 | $306,000 | $324,000 +6% |
| 2 | David Duval | -12 | $126,933 | $194,400 +53% |
| T3 | Mark O'Meara | -10 | $104,400 | |
| T3 | David Frost | -10 | $104,400 | |
| 5 | John Huston | -9 | $57,630 | $72,000 +25% |
| T6 | Mike Hulbert | -8 | $56,340 | |
| T6 | Davis Love III | -8 | $56,340 | |
| T6 | Brad Faxon | -8 | $56,340 | |
| T6 | Ernie Els | -8 | $56,340 | |
| T6 | Paul Stankowski | -8 | $56,340 | |
| T11 | Fuzzy Zoeller | -7 | $40,800 | $43,200 |
| T11 | Steve Lowery | -7 | $40,800 | $43,200 |
| 13 | Steve Stricker | -6 | $30,033 | $37,800 +26% |
| T14 | Larry Mize | -5 | $31,500 | |
| T14 | Fred Funk | -5 | $31,500 | |
| T14 | Michael Bradley | -5 | $31,500 | |
| T14 | Mark Calcavecchia | -5 | $31,500 | |
| T18 | Kenny Perry | -4 | $25,200 | |
| T18 | Woody Austin | -4 | $25,200 | |
| T18 | Jesper Parnevik | -4 | $25,200 | |
| T21 | Justin Leonard | -3 | $15,959 | $18,720 |
| T21 | Payne Stewart | -3 | $15,959 | $18,720 |
| T21 | Joe Ozaki | -3 | $15,959 | $18,720 |
| T21 | Jeff Maggert | -3 | $15,959 | $18,720 |
| T21 | Rocco Mediate | -3 | $15,959 | $18,720 |
| T26 | Mark Brooks | -2 | $13,590 | |
| T26 | Craig Stadler | -2 | $13,590 | |
| T26 | Hal Sutton | -2 | $13,590 | |
| T26 | Tommy Tolles | -2 | $13,590 | |
| T30 | Wayne Westner | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Curtis Strange | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Tom Purtzer | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Brett Ogle | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Keith Fergus | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Ben Crenshaw | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Tom Lehman | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Jay Haas | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T30 | Mike Heinen | -1 | $10,240 | |
| T39 | Joel Edwards | E | $7,560 | |
| T39 | Emlyn Aubrey | E | $7,560 | |
| T39 | David Ogrin | E | $7,560 | |
| T39 | Larry Nelson | E | $7,560 | |
| T43 | Mark McCumber | +1 | $5,772 | |
| T43 | Bob Tway | +1 | $5,772 | |
| T43 | Duffy Waldorf | +1 | $5,772 | |
| T43 | Vijay Singh | +1 | $5,772 | |
| T43 | David Edwards | +1 | $5,772 | |
| T43 | Stewart Cink | +1 | $5,772 | |
| T49 | Andrew Coltart | +2 | $4,361 | |
| T49 | Jim Furyk | +2 | $4,361 | |
| T49 | Scott Hoch | +2 | $4,361 | |
| T49 | Paul Azinger | +2 | $4,361 | |
| T49 | Steve Elkington | +2 | $4,361 | |
| T49 | John Wilson | +2 | $4,361 | |
| T49 | Peter O'Malley | +2 | $4,361 | |
| T56 | Rick Todd | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | Jim McGovern | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | Robin Freeman | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | John Cook | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | Wayne Grady | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | Tim Herron | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | Allen Doyle | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | Jerry Kelly | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T56 | Scott McCarron | +3 | $3,960 | |
| T65 | Bob Lohr | +4 | $3,762 | |
| T65 | Brad Bryant | +4 | $3,762 | |
| T67 | Jay Don Blake | +5 | $3,690 | |
| T67 | Loren Roberts | +5 | $3,690 | |
| T69 | Ted Tryba | +6 | $3,618 | |
| T69 | John Morse | +6 | $3,618 | |
| T71 | Phil Mickelson | +7 | $3,546 | |
| T71 | Nolan Henke | +7 | $3,546 | |
| T73 | Sandy Lyle | +8 | $3,298 | $3,474 |
| T73 | John Daly | +8 | $3,298 | $3,474 |
| 75 | Scott Simpson | +9 | $3,230 | $3,420 +6% |
| 76 | Lanny Wadkins | +10 | $3,196 | $3,384 +6% |
| T77 | Gene Sauers | +11 | $3,330 | |
| T77 | Hisayuki Sasaki | +11 | $3,330 | |
| MC | John Harris | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Todd Demsey | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Scherrer | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Omar Uresti | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Per-Ulrik Johansson | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Sluman | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Don Pooley | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Kirk Triplett | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Corey Pavin | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Gil Morgan | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Nicklaus | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Greg Norman | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Verplank | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Wiebe | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | D.A. Weibring | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Paul Goydos | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Andrade | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Guy Boros | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Gallagher, Jr. | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Gamez | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Brandel Chamblee | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Lennie Clements | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Ian Baker-Finch | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy Bean | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Bruce Lietzke | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Roger Maltbie | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Martin | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Mayfair | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Peter Jacobsen | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Janzen | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Jones | +4 | $0 | |
| WD | Patrick Burke | +3 | Not known |
The Memorial Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1996 Memorial Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1996 Memorial Tournament get?
Tom Watson won $324,000 from a $1,800,000 purse.
What was the 1996 Memorial Tournament purse?
$1,800,000.
How much did last place get at the 1996 Memorial Tournament?
The smallest check was $3,330, to Hisayuki Sasaki (T77).
How many players made the cut at the 1996 Memorial Tournament?
78 players made the cut and finished, and 31 players missed it.