Gary Player finished -11 and took 17% of the purse. That $45,000 is worth about $229,191 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1978 Masters Tournament purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 65% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1978 Masters 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 | Gary Player | -11 | $40,000 | $45,000 +12% |
| T2 | Rod Funseth | -10 | $30,000 | $21,667 |
| T2 | Hubert Green | -10 | $30,000 | $21,667 |
| T2 | Tom Watson | -10 | $30,000 | $21,667 |
| T5 | Wally Armstrong | -8 | $12,500 | $11,750 |
| T5 | Billy Kratzert | -8 | $12,500 | $11,750 |
| 7 | Jack Nicklaus | -7 | $10,000 | |
| 8 | Hale Irwin | -6 | $5,667 | $8,500 +50% |
| T9 | David Graham | -5 | $6,750 | |
| T9 | Joe Inman | -5 | $6,750 | |
| T11 | Don January | -4 | $4,417 | |
| T11 | Jerry McGee | -4 | $4,417 | |
| T11 | Tom Weiskopf | -4 | $4,417 | |
| T14 | Peter Oosterhuis | -3 | $3,000 | $3,300 |
| T14 | Lee Trevino | -3 | $3,000 | $3,300 |
| T16 | Ray Floyd | -2 | $2,950 | |
| T16 | Lindy Miller Amateur | -2 | Not known | |
| T18 | Seve Ballesteros | -1 | $2,550 | |
| T18 | Tom Kite | -1 | $2,550 | |
| T18 | Gil Morgan | -1 | $2,550 | |
| T18 | Jerry Pate | -1 | $2,550 | |
| T18 | Ed Sneed | -1 | $2,550 | |
| T18 | Lanny Wadkins | -1 | $2,550 | |
| T24 | Miller Barber | E | $2,200 | $2,200 |
| T24 | Andy Bean | E | $2,200 | $2,200 |
| T24 | Gene Littler | E | $2,200 | $2,200 |
| T24 | Leonard Thompson | E | $2,200 | $2,200 |
| 28 | Bobby Cole | +1 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| T29 | Gay Brewer | +2 | $1,975 | |
| T29 | Mac McLendon | +2 | $1,975 | |
| T29 | Bill Rogers | +2 | $1,975 | |
| T32 | Jim Colbert | +3 | $1,950 | |
| T32 | Terry Diehl | +3 | $1,950 | |
| T32 | Johnny Miller | +3 | $1,950 | |
| T32 | Andy North | +3 | $1,950 | |
| 36 | Tommy Aaron | +4 | $1,925 | |
| T37 | Ben Crenshaw | +5 | $1,900 | |
| T37 | Mike Hill | +5 | $1,900 | |
| T37 | Arnold Palmer | +5 | $1,900 | |
| T37 | Tom Purtzer | +5 | $1,900 | |
| 41 | Lyn Lott | +6 | $1,875 | |
| T42 | Lee Elder | +7 | $1,875 | $1,850 |
| T42 | Al Geiberger | +7 | $1,875 | $1,850 |
| T42 | John Schlee | +7 | $1,875 | $1,850 |
| T45 | Vance Heafner Amateur | +8 | $1,850 | Not known |
| T45 | Dave Hill | +8 | $1,850 | $1,825 |
| T47 | Jay Haas | +9 | $1,800 | |
| T47 | Gary Hallberg Amateur | +9 | Not known | |
| 49 | Dick Siderowf Amateur | +10 | Not known | |
| 50 | Bob Wynn | +11 | $1,750 | |
| 51 | Steve Melnyk | +12 | $1,725 | |
| 52 | Bob Goalby | +13 | $1,700 | |
| 53 | Peter McEvoy Amateur | +14 | Not known | |
| CUT | Charles Coody | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Dave Eichelberger | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Lou Graham | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Masashi Ozaki | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Manuel Piñero | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Billy Casper | +7 | $0 | |
| CUT | Mike Morley | +7 | $0 | |
| CUT | Dave Stockton | +7 | $0 | |
| CUT | Isao Aoki | +8 | $0 | |
| CUT | Art Wall Jr. | +8 | $0 | |
| CUT | Gary Jacobson | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Jay Sigel Amateur | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Doug Ford | +10 | $0 | |
| CUT | Sam Snead | +10 | $0 | |
| CUT | Antonio Garrido | +11 | $0 | |
| CUT | Ralph Landrum Amateur | +12 | $0 | |
| CUT | Rik Massengale | +12 | $0 | |
| CUT | Jim Simons | +12 | $0 | |
| CUT | Danny Edwards | +14 | $0 | |
| CUT | Tsuneyuki Nakajima | +16 | $0 | |
| CUT | Mike Brannan Amateur | +18 | $0 | |
| CUT | Doug Fischesser Amateur | +21 | $0 | |
| CUT | Fred Ridley Amateur | +21 | $0 | |
| WD | George Archer | +9 | Not known | |
| WD | Mike McCullough | +10 | Not known |
Masters Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1978 Masters Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1978 Masters Tournament get?
Gary Player won $45,000 from a $262,402 purse.
What was the 1978 Masters Tournament purse?
$262,402.
How much did last place get at the 1978 Masters Tournament?
The smallest check was $1,700, to Bob Goalby (52).
How many players made the cut at the 1978 Masters Tournament?
53 players made the cut and finished, and 23 players missed it.