Bruce Lietzke finished -25 and took 20% of the purse. That $50,000 is worth about $182,701 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1981 Bob Hope Desert Classic 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.
1981 Bob Hope Desert Classic 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 | Bruce Lietzke | -25 | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| 2 | Jerry Pate | -23 | $24,200 | $29,700 +23% |
| 3 | David Edwards | -19 | $18,700 | |
| T4 | Bill Rogers | -18 | $13,200 | $11,367 |
| T4 | J. C. Snead | -18 | $13,200 | $11,367 |
| T4 | D.A. Weibring | -18 | $13,200 | $11,367 |
| 7 | Ben Crenshaw | -17 | $9,175 | |
| T8 | Ray Floyd | -16 | $7,975 | |
| T8 | Tom Kite | -16 | $7,975 | |
| T8 | Jack Renner | -16 | $7,975 | |
| T11 | Lee Trevino | -15 | $6,050 | |
| T11 | Peter Jacobsen | -15 | $6,050 | |
| T11 | Bob Gilder | -15 | $6,050 | |
| T11 | Bud Allin | -15 | $6,050 | |
| T15 | Wally Armstrong | -14 | $4,262 | $4,538 |
| T15 | Bob Murphy | -14 | $4,262 | $4,538 |
| T15 | Ed Sneed | -14 | $4,262 | $4,538 |
| T15 | Craig Stadler | -14 | $4,262 | $4,538 |
| T19 | Wayne Levi | -13 | $3,712 | |
| T19 | Bobby Clampett | -13 | $3,712 | |
| T21 | Mark Lye | -12 | $3,300 | $2,666 |
| T21 | Lon Hinkle | -12 | $3,300 | $2,666 |
| T21 | Jay Haas | -12 | $3,300 | $2,666 |
| T21 | Vance Heafner | -12 | $3,300 | $2,666 |
| T21 | Ron Streck | -12 | $3,300 | $2,666 |
| T21 | Scott Simpson | -12 | $3,300 | $2,666 |
| T21 | Lanny Wadkins | -12 | $3,300 | $2,666 |
| T28 | Bobby Walzel | -11 | $1,920 | |
| T28 | Doug Tewell | -11 | $1,920 | |
| T28 | Jack Nicklaus | -11 | $1,920 | |
| T28 | Peter Oosterhuis | -11 | $1,920 | |
| T32 | Don Pooley | -10 | $1,465 | $1,497 |
| T32 | Tom Purtzer | -10 | $1,465 | $1,497 |
| T32 | Howard Twitty | -10 | $1,465 | $1,497 |
| T32 | Gary Hallberg | -10 | $1,465 | $1,497 |
| T32 | Roger Maltbie | -10 | $1,465 | $1,497 |
| T32 | Dave Eichelberger | -10 | $1,465 | $1,497 |
| T32 | Keith Fergus | -10 | $1,465 | $1,497 |
| T39 | Lyn Lott | -9 | $1,150 | |
| T39 | John Cook | -9 | $1,150 | |
| T39 | Tom Weiskopf | -9 | $1,150 | |
| T39 | Mike Reid | -9 | $1,150 | |
| T43 | Mark O'Meara | -8 | $875 | |
| T43 | Larry Nelson | -8 | $875 | |
| T43 | Dan Halldorson | -8 | $875 | |
| T43 | Terry Diehl | -8 | $875 | |
| T43 | Bob Eastwood | -8 | $875 | |
| T43 | George Archer | -8 | $875 | |
| T49 | Lee Elder | -7 | $690 | $690 |
| T49 | Tom Jenkins | -7 | $690 | $690 |
| T49 | Gil Morgan | -7 | $690 | $690 |
| T49 | Jim Simons | -7 | $690 | $690 |
| T53 | Jimmy Powell | -6 | $628 | $640 |
| T53 | John Fought | -6 | $628 | $640 |
| T53 | George Burns | -6 | $628 | $640 |
| T56 | Charles Coody | -5 | $602 | |
| T56 | Frank Beard | -5 | $602 | |
| T56 | Mike Donald | -5 | $602 | |
| T56 | Lou Graham | -5 | $602 | |
| T56 | Alan Tapie | -5 | $602 | |
| T56 | Fuzzy Zoeller | -5 | $602 | |
| T56 | Scott Watkins | -5 | $602 | |
| T56 | Tommy Valentine | -5 | $602 | |
| T64 | Leonard Thompson | -4 | $575 | |
| T64 | Calvin Peete | -4 | $575 | |
| T64 | Jerry McGee | -4 | $575 | |
| T67 | Tommy Aaron | -3 | $562 | |
| T67 | Jim Colbert | -3 | $562 | |
| 69 | Joe Inman | -1 | $555 | |
| 70 | Doug Sanders | E | $550 | $550 |
| 71 | Arnold Palmer | +1 | $545 | $545 |
| MC | Victor Regalado | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Pfeil | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Dan Pohl | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | Dwight Nevil | +1 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Nichols | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Nieporte | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy North | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Cesar Sanudo | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | Curtis Sifford | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Sander | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | Tim Simpson | E | $0 | |
| MC | Lance Ten Broeck | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Sullivan | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Stockton | +1 | $0 | |
| MC | Curtis Strange | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Thorpe | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | John Traub | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Wadkins | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Hoch | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Koch | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Kratzert | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Hubert Green | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Bunky Henry | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Hill | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Phillip Hancock | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Morris Hatalsky | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Hayes | +1 | $0 | |
| MC | Artie McNickle | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | Lindy Miller | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Mitchell | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Orville Moody | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Morley | +1 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Nelford | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | Gene Littler | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | Rik Massengale | E | $0 | |
| MC | Terry Mauney | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Frank Conner | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Byman | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | George Cadle | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Rex Caldwell | E | $0 | |
| MC | Roger Calvin | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Casper | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Jon Chaffee | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | Chip Beck | +1 | $0 | |
| MC | Michael Brannan | +1 | $0 | |
| MC | Gay Brewer | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Bryant | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | Miller Barber | -1 | $0 | |
| MC | George Bayer | +22 | $0 | |
| MC | Rod Curl | +1 | $0 | |
| MC | Danny Edwards | -2 | $0 | |
| MC | David Eger | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Gove | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Fiori | E | $0 | |
| DQ | John Adams | +2 | Not known | |
| WD | John Mahaffey | -5 | Not known |
Careerbuilder Challenge winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1981 Bob Hope Desert Classic payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1981 Bob Hope Desert Classic get?
Bruce Lietzke won $50,000 from a $250,000 purse.
What was the 1981 Bob Hope Desert Classic purse?
$250,000.
How much did last place get at the 1981 Bob Hope Desert Classic?
The smallest check was $545, to Arnold Palmer (71).
How many players made the cut at the 1981 Bob Hope Desert Classic?
71 players made the cut and finished, and 54 players missed it.