Fuzzy Zoeller finished -6 and took 18% of the purse. That $54,000 is worth about $197,318 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1981 Colonial National Invitation 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 Colonial National Invitation 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 | Fuzzy Zoeller | -6 | $54,000 | $54,000 |
| 2 | Hale Irwin | -2 | $32,400 | $32,400 |
| T3 | Tom Kite | -1 | $20,400 | $15,600 |
| T3 | Scott Simpson | -1 | $20,400 | $15,600 |
| T3 | Curtis Strange | -1 | $20,400 | $15,600 |
| 6 | Frank Conner | E | $10,800 | $10,800 |
| T7 | Don January | +1 | $9,675 | $9,675 |
| T7 | Ray Floyd | +1 | $9,675 | $9,675 |
| T9 | Jerry Heard | +2 | $7,800 | $8,400 |
| T9 | Rod Curl | +2 | $7,800 | $8,400 |
| T11 | Jim Colbert | +3 | $6,150 | |
| T11 | Vance Heafner | +3 | $6,150 | |
| T11 | Ron Streck | +3 | $6,150 | |
| T11 | Jack Renner | +3 | $6,150 | |
| T11 | Bill Rogers | +3 | $6,150 | |
| T11 | Bob Murphy | +3 | $6,150 | |
| T17 | Mike Reid | +4 | $4,650 | |
| T17 | Craig Stadler | +4 | $4,650 | |
| T19 | Tom Weiskopf | +5 | $4,050 | |
| T19 | Mark Lye | +5 | $4,050 | |
| T21 | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | +6 | $3,000 | |
| T21 | Tom Jenkins | +6 | $3,000 | |
| T21 | Keith Fergus | +6 | $3,000 | |
| T21 | Bobby Clampett | +6 | $3,000 | |
| T21 | George Archer | +6 | $3,000 | |
| T21 | Fred Couples | +6 | $3,000 | |
| T27 | Danny Edwards | +7 | $2,040 | |
| T27 | Jay Haas | +7 | $2,040 | |
| T27 | Mark McCumber | +7 | $2,040 | |
| T27 | Jeff Mitchell | +7 | $2,040 | |
| T27 | Mark Pfeil | +7 | $2,040 | |
| T27 | Barry Jaeckel | +7 | $2,040 | |
| T27 | Mark O'Meara | +7 | $2,040 | |
| T34 | Jerry Pate | +8 | $1,515 | |
| T34 | Rik Massengale | +8 | $1,515 | |
| T34 | David Graham | +8 | $1,515 | |
| T34 | Lon Hinkle | +8 | $1,515 | |
| T34 | Bob Eastwood | +8 | $1,515 | |
| T34 | George Cadle | +8 | $1,515 | |
| T40 | George Burns | +9 | $1,140 | |
| T40 | Gary Koch | +9 | $1,140 | |
| T40 | Dan Halldorson | +9 | $1,140 | |
| T40 | Dan Pohl | +9 | $1,140 | |
| T40 | Lee Trevino | +9 | $1,140 | |
| T40 | Howard Twitty | +9 | $1,140 | |
| T46 | John Schroeder | +10 | $850 | |
| T46 | John Mahaffey | +10 | $850 | |
| T46 | Bud Allin | +10 | $850 | |
| T46 | Brad Bryant | +10 | $850 | |
| 50 | Tommy Valentine | +11 | $756 | |
| T51 | Mike Sullivan | +12 | $716 | |
| T51 | Ed Sneed | +12 | $716 | |
| T51 | David Edwards | +12 | $716 | |
| T51 | Scott Hoch | +12 | $716 | |
| T55 | Lanny Wadkins | +13 | $687 | |
| T55 | Terry Mauney | +13 | $687 | |
| T57 | Barney Thompson | +14 | $675 | |
| T57 | Dave Eichelberger | +14 | $675 | |
| 59 | Gary Hallberg | +16 | $666 | |
| T60 | John Fought | +17 | $654 | $657 |
| T60 | Miller Barber | +17 | $654 | $657 |
| 62 | Mike Morley | +18 | $648 | |
| T63 | Tom Purtzer | +5 | $642 | $627 |
| T63 | Larry Nelson | +5 | $642 | $627 |
| T63 | Tom Watson | +5 | $642 | $627 |
| T63 | Jim Simons | +5 | $642 | $627 |
| T63 | Bruce Devlin | +5 | $642 | $627 |
| T63 | Al Geiberger | +5 | $642 | $627 |
| T69 | Charles Coody | +6 | $591 | |
| T69 | John Cook | +6 | $591 | |
| T69 | Ben Crenshaw | +6 | $591 | |
| T69 | Rex Caldwell | +6 | $591 | |
| T69 | Hubert Green | +6 | $591 | |
| T69 | Artie McNickle | +6 | $591 | |
| MC | Johnny Miller | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Lindy Miller | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Roger Maltbie | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Don Pooley | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Calvin Peete | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Walzel | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Ziegler | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Leonard Thompson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Stockton | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Wadkins | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Terry Diehl | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Donald | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Lou Graham | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Fiori | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Morris Hatalsky | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Hayes | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Peter Jacobsen | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Bruce Lietzke | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Gene Littler | +8 | $0 | |
| WD | Phillip Hancock | +6 | Not known | |
| WD | Gibby Gilbert | +4 | Not known | |
| WD | Bob Gilder | +5 | Not known | |
| WD | D.A. Weibring | +9 | Not known | |
| WD | Doug Tewell | +6 | Not known | |
| WD | Jack Newton | +1 | Not known | |
| WD | Victor Regalado | +8 | Not known |
Fort Worth Invitational winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1981 Colonial National Invitation payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1981 Colonial National Invitation get?
Fuzzy Zoeller won $54,000 from a $300,000 purse.
What was the 1981 Colonial National Invitation purse?
$300,000.
How much did last place get at the 1981 Colonial National Invitation?
The smallest check was $591, to Artie McNickle (T69).
How many players made the cut at the 1981 Colonial National Invitation?
74 players made the cut and finished, and 19 players missed it.