David Graham finished -7 and took 15% of the purse. That $55,000 is worth about $200,972 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1981 U.S. Open purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 61% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1981 U.S. Open 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 | David Graham | -7 | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| T2 | George Burns | -4 | $29,500 | $24,650 |
| T2 | Bill Rogers | -4 | $29,500 | $24,650 |
| T4 | John Schroeder | -1 | $16,200 | |
| T4 | John Cook | -1 | $16,200 | |
| T6 | Frank Conner | E | $11,950 | $9,920 |
| T6 | Lon Hinkle | E | $11,950 | $9,920 |
| T6 | Jack Nicklaus | E | $11,950 | $9,920 |
| T6 | Sammy Rachels | E | $11,950 | $9,920 |
| T6 | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | E | $11,950 | $9,920 |
| T11 | Jim Thorpe | +1 | $5,500 | |
| T11 | Ben Crenshaw | +1 | $5,500 | |
| T11 | Isao Aoki | +1 | $5,500 | |
| T14 | Mark Hayes | +2 | $3,617 | |
| T14 | Calvin Peete | +2 | $3,617 | |
| T14 | Lanny Wadkins | +2 | $3,617 | |
| T17 | Curtis Strange | +3 | $2,950 | |
| T17 | Jack Renner | +3 | $2,950 | |
| T17 | Bruce Lietzke | +3 | $2,950 | |
| T20 | Tom Kite | +4 | $2,550 | |
| T20 | Mike Reid | +4 | $2,550 | |
| T20 | Larry Nelson | +4 | $2,550 | |
| T23 | Johnny Miller | +5 | $2,350 | |
| T23 | Scott Simpson | +5 | $2,350 | |
| T23 | Tom Watson | +5 | $2,350 | |
| T26 | Craig Stadler | +6 | $2,100 | |
| T26 | Tommy Valentine | +6 | $2,100 | |
| T26 | Rik Massengale | +6 | $2,100 | |
| T26 | Jerry Pate | +6 | $2,100 | |
| T26 | Gary Player | +6 | $2,100 | |
| T26 | Bruce Devlin | +6 | $2,100 | |
| T26 | Jim Colbert | +6 | $2,100 | |
| T33 | Lee Elder | +7 | $1,828 | |
| T33 | Greg Norman | +7 | $1,828 | |
| T33 | Billy Kratzert | +7 | $1,828 | |
| T33 | J. C. Snead | +7 | $1,828 | |
| T37 | Peter Jacobsen | +8 | $1,630 | $1,660 |
| T37 | Forrest Fezler | +8 | $1,630 | $1,660 |
| T37 | Ray Floyd | +8 | $1,630 | $1,660 |
| T37 | Hubert Green | +8 | $1,630 | $1,660 |
| T41 | Seve Ballesteros | +9 | $1,570 | |
| T41 | Roger Maltbie | +9 | $1,570 | |
| T43 | Andy North | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Mike Peck | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Bob Ackerman | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Thomas Gray | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Keith Fergus | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Mick Soli | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Tim Simpson | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Bobby Wadkins | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | Leonard Thompson | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T43 | D.A. Weibring | +10 | $1,530 | $1,453 |
| T53 | Gary Hallberg | +11 | $1,370 | $1,350 |
| T53 | Bobby Nichols | +11 | $1,370 | $1,350 |
| T53 | Jim Nelford | +11 | $1,370 | $1,350 |
| T53 | Mark McNulty | +11 | $1,370 | $1,350 |
| T53 | Steve Melnyk | +11 | $1,370 | $1,350 |
| T58 | Greg Powers | +12 | $1,310 | $1,310 |
| T58 | Joe Hager | +12 | $1,310 | $1,310 |
| T58 | Hale Irwin | +12 | $1,310 | $1,310 |
| T58 | George Archer | +12 | $1,310 | $1,310 |
| T58 | Ray Carrasco | +12 | $1,310 | $1,310 |
| T58 | Jim Simons | +12 | $1,310 | $1,310 |
| 64 | Charlie Gibson | +13 | $1,300 | |
| T65 | Morris Hatalsky | +14 | $1,300 | |
| T65 | Joey Rassett | +14 | Not known | |
| T65 | Bill Pelham | +14 | $1,300 | |
| 68 | Dave Barr | +15 | $1,300 | |
| 69 | Mark Lye | +16 | $1,300 | |
| 70 | Kip Byrne | +20 | $1,300 | |
| MC | James Clements | +28 | $0 | |
| MC | John Cudd | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Degenhart | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Domagalski | +27 | $0 | |
| MC | Elwin Fanning | +24 | $0 | |
| MC | Lu Hsi-Chuen | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | C.P. Moore | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Lawrence | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Stockton | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | DeWitt Weaver | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim White | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Wright | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Al Chandler | +17 | $0 | |
| — | William Ludwig | +16 | Not known | |
| — | Bryan Norton | +8 | Not known | |
| — | Mickey Yokoi | +15 | Not known | |
| MC | Rolf Deming | +14 | $0 | |
| — | Don Hurter | +21 | Not known | |
| MC | Al Green | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | John McGough | +9 | $0 | |
| — | Wayne DeFrancesco | +10 | Not known | |
| MC | Jerry Tucker | +15 | $0 | |
| — | Gregg Jones | +16 | Not known | |
| MC | Ken Krieger | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | William Sakas | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Karbowski | +12 | $0 | |
| — | Joey Sindelar | +11 | Not known | |
| MC | Ed Sneed | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Thompson | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | David Thore | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Sullivan | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Hal Sutton | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Tewell | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Trevino | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Howard Twitty | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Michael Schroder | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | David Zabell | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | John Zebroski | +15 | $0 | |
| — | Gayle Sanchez | +14 | Not known | |
| MC | Sandy Lyle | +8 | $0 | |
| — | Andrew Magee | +17 | Not known | |
| MC | John Mahaffey | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Masserio | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark McCumber | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Lynn Janson | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Ralph Landrum | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Klein | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Koch | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Lindy Miller | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Mize | +11 | $0 | |
| — | Tommy Moore | +15 | Not known | |
| MC | Gil Morgan | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Morley | +9 | $0 | |
| — | Jodie Mudd | +15 | Not known | |
| MC | Tom Purtzer | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Dana Quigley | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Don Pooley | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Tim Norris | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark O'Meara | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Arnold Palmer | +15 | $0 | |
| — | Corey Pavin | +9 | Not known | |
| MC | Rick Pearson | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Eric Batten | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Chip Beck | +12 | $0 | |
| — | Roy Biancalana | +16 | Not known | |
| MC | James Blair III | +9 | $0 | |
| — | John Brodie | +22 | Not known | |
| MC | John Adams | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Terry Anton | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Byman | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Rex Caldwell | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Terry Diehl | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Terry Dill | +21 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Eastwood | +19 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Eichelberger | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Donnie Hammond | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Haas | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Hewes | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Hoch | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Inskeep | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Gilder | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Lou Graham | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Garrett | +23 | $0 | |
| — | Brad Faxon | +12 | Not known | |
| MC | Jack Ferenz | +10 | $0 |
U.S. Open winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1981 U.S. Open payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1981 U.S. Open get?
David Graham won $55,000 from a $361,730 purse.
What was the 1981 U.S. Open purse?
$361,730.
How much did last place get at the 1981 U.S. Open?
The smallest check was $1,300, to Kip Byrne (70).
How many players made the cut at the 1981 U.S. Open?
70 players made the cut and finished, and 70 players missed it.