Fred Couples finished -17 and took 18% of the purse. That $396,000 is worth about $807,125 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1998 Memorial Tournament purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 60% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1998 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 | Fred Couples | -17 | $342,000 | $396,000 +16% |
| 2 | Andrew Magee | -13 | $167,200 | $237,600 +42% |
| 3 | David Duval | -12 | $149,600 | |
| 4 | Jim Furyk | -11 | $78,533 | $105,600 +34% |
| T5 | Davis Love III | -10 | $83,600 | |
| T5 | Brandel Chamblee | -10 | $83,600 | |
| T7 | Mark Calcavecchia | -9 | $63,650 | $66,275 |
| T7 | Tim Herron | -9 | $63,650 | $66,275 |
| T7 | Ernie Els | -9 | $63,650 | $66,275 |
| T7 | Ted Tryba | -9 | $63,650 | $66,275 |
| T11 | Craig Stadler | -8 | $46,640 | |
| T11 | Glen Day | -8 | $46,640 | |
| T11 | Robert Damron | -8 | $46,640 | |
| T11 | Jesper Parnevik | -8 | $46,640 | |
| T11 | Tom Lehman | -8 | $46,640 | |
| T16 | Justin Leonard | -7 | $30,863 | |
| T16 | Frank Nobilo | -7 | $30,863 | |
| T16 | Neal Lancaster | -7 | $30,863 | |
| T16 | Chris Perry | -7 | $30,863 | |
| T16 | Bob Tway | -7 | $30,863 | |
| T16 | Kirk Triplett | -7 | $30,863 | |
| T16 | Bobby Wadkins | -7 | $30,863 | |
| T23 | Mark Wiebe | -6 | $19,580 | |
| T23 | Brett Quigley | -6 | $19,580 | |
| T23 | Steve Lowery | -6 | $19,580 | |
| T23 | Jay Haas | -6 | $19,580 | |
| T23 | Dan Forsman | -6 | $19,580 | |
| T28 | Brad Fabel | -5 | $15,620 | |
| T28 | Steve Jones | -5 | $15,620 | |
| T28 | Larry Mize | -5 | $15,620 | |
| T31 | Len Mattiace | -4 | $12,477 | |
| T31 | Billy Mayfair | -4 | $12,477 | |
| T31 | Lee Janzen | -4 | $12,477 | |
| T31 | John Huston | -4 | $12,477 | |
| T31 | Nick Faldo | -4 | $12,477 | |
| T31 | John Cook | -4 | $12,477 | |
| T31 | Steve Stricker | -4 | $12,477 | |
| T38 | Scott Verplank | -3 | $7,600 | $9,240 |
| T38 | Trevor Dodds | -3 | $7,600 | $9,240 |
| T38 | Fred Funk | -3 | $7,600 | $9,240 |
| T38 | Stewart Cink | -3 | $7,600 | $9,240 |
| T38 | Harrison Frazar | -3 | $7,600 | $9,240 |
| T38 | Edward Fryatt | -3 | $7,600 | $9,240 |
| T44 | Bob Estes | -2 | $7,040 | |
| T44 | Greg Kraft | -2 | $7,040 | |
| T44 | Kenny Perry | -2 | $7,040 | |
| T44 | Joey Sindelar | -2 | $7,040 | |
| T48 | Brent Geiberger | -1 | $5,764 | |
| T48 | Mark Brooks | -1 | $5,764 | |
| T48 | Brad Elder | -1 | $5,764 | |
| T51 | Phil Blackmar | E | $5,148 | |
| T51 | Brad Faxon | E | $5,148 | |
| T51 | Tiger Woods | E | $5,148 | |
| T51 | Don Pooley | E | $5,148 | |
| T51 | Doug Tewell | E | $5,148 | |
| T51 | David Toms | E | $5,148 | |
| T51 | Jeff Gallagher | E | $5,148 | |
| T58 | Esteban Toledo | +1 | $4,884 | |
| T58 | Jim Carter | +1 | $4,884 | |
| T58 | Joe Ozaki | +1 | $4,884 | |
| T61 | Mike Hulbert | +2 | $4,752 | |
| T61 | Frank Lickliter II | +2 | $4,752 | |
| T61 | Gabriel Hjertstedt | +2 | $4,752 | |
| T64 | Kevin Sutherland | +3 | $4,620 | |
| T64 | Jeff Maggert | +3 | $4,620 | |
| T64 | David Edwards | +3 | $4,620 | |
| 67 | Steve Pate | +4 | $3,800 | $4,532 +19% |
| T68 | Vijay Singh | +5 | $4,466 | |
| T68 | David Ogrin | +5 | $4,466 | |
| 70 | Jeff Sluman | +7 | $4,400 | |
| 71 | Payne Stewart | +8 | $4,356 | |
| MC | Curtis Strange | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Rinker | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Fuzzy Zoeller | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Lanny Wadkins | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Dudley Hart | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Tolles | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Paul Goydos | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Flesch | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Jerry Kelly | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Brisky | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott McCarron | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Karlsson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Nicklaus | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Roger Maltbie | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Martin | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Hajime Meshiai | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Phil Mickelson | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Peter Jacobsen | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Wayne Grady | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Hoch | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Skip Kendall | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | R.W. Eaks | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Keith Fergus | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Friend | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | David Frost | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Andrade | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Armour III | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Byrum | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Barry Cheesman | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Delsing | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Clark Dennis | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Stuart Appleby | +7 | $0 | |
| WD | Glen Hnatiuk | +1 | Not known |
The Memorial Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1998 Memorial Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1998 Memorial Tournament get?
Fred Couples won $396,000 from a $2,200,000 purse.
What was the 1998 Memorial Tournament purse?
$2,200,000.
How much did last place get at the 1998 Memorial Tournament?
The smallest check was $4,356, to Payne Stewart (71).
How many players made the cut at the 1998 Memorial Tournament?
71 players made the cut and finished, and 32 players missed it.