In 1978 The Open Championship didn’t count as official PGA Tour money, so this prize money isn’t part of anyone’s official PGA Tour total for the season.
The Open paid its prize money in pounds. Amounts are shown in US dollars, converted at the 1978 average rate of $1.92 per pound, with the original amount in pounds beside each one.
Our source lists prize money for the top 28 finishers only, so the rest of the field isn't shown.
Jack Nicklaus finished -7 and took 14% of the purse. That $33,572 is worth about $170,987 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1978 Open Championship purse was split
Every finisher with a recorded payout, in finishing order.
1978 Open Championship 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 | Jack Nicklaus | -7 | $17,449 | $33,572 +92% £17,500 |
| T2 | Ben Crenshaw | -5 | $13,959 | $19,639 £10,237 |
| T2 | Ray Floyd | -5 | $13,959 | $19,639 £10,237 |
| T2 | Tom Kite | -5 | $13,959 | $19,639 £10,237 |
| T2 | Simon Owen | -5 | $13,959 | $19,639 £10,237 |
| 6 | Peter Oosterhuis | -4 | $13,429 £7,000 | |
| T7 | Isao Aoki | -3 | $6,543 | $10,574 £5,512 |
| T7 | Nick Faldo | -3 | $6,543 | $10,574 £5,512 |
| T7 | John Schroeder | -3 | $6,543 | $10,574 £5,512 |
| T7 | Bob Shearer | -3 | $6,543 | $10,574 £5,512 |
| T11 | Michael Cahill | -2 | $7,491 £3,905 | |
| T11 | Dale Hayes | -2 | $7,491 £3,905 | |
| T11 | Orville Moody | -2 | $7,491 £3,905 | |
| T14 | Mark Hayes | -1 | $6,446 £3,360 | |
| T14 | Masashi Ozaki | -1 | $6,446 £3,360 | |
| T14 | Tom Watson | -1 | $6,446 £3,360 | |
| T17 | Seve Ballesteros | E | $4,297 £2,240 | |
| T17 | Bob Byman | E | $4,297 £2,240 | |
| T17 | Guy Hunt | E | $4,297 £2,240 | |
| T17 | Tsuneyuki Nakajima | E | $4,297 £2,240 | |
| T17 | Tom Weiskopf | E | $4,297 £2,240 | |
| T22 | Bernard Gallacher | +1 | $2,551 £1,330 | |
| T22 | Nick Job | +1 | $2,551 £1,330 | |
| T24 | Antonio Garrido | +2 | $1,840 £959 | |
| T24 | Hale Irwin | +2 | $1,840 £959 | |
| T24 | Carl Mason | +2 | $1,840 £959 | |
| T24 | Jack Newton | +2 | $1,840 £959 | |
| T24 | Peter Thomson | +2 | $1,840 £959 |
The Open Championship winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1978 Open Championship payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1978 Open Championship get?
Jack Nicklaus won $33,572 from a $239,800 purse.
What was the 1978 Open Championship purse?
$239,800.