Curtis Strange finished -14 and took 18% of the purse. That $90,000 is worth about $272,806 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1986 Houston Open purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 66% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1986 Houston 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 | Curtis Strange | -14 | $90,000 | $90,000 |
| 2 | Calvin Peete | -14 | $44,000 | $54,000 +23% |
| 3 | Tom Watson | -12 | $34,000 | |
| T4 | David Edwards | -9 | $19,688 | $20,667 |
| T4 | Jay Haas | -9 | $19,688 | $20,667 |
| T4 | Bruce Lietzke | -9 | $19,688 | $20,667 |
| T7 | Payne Stewart | -8 | $16,125 | |
| T7 | Doug Tewell | -8 | $16,125 | |
| T9 | Craig Stadler | -6 | $12,500 | |
| T9 | Bill Glasson | -6 | $12,500 | |
| T9 | Charles Bolling | -6 | $12,500 | |
| T9 | Brian Claar | -6 | $12,500 | |
| T9 | Lennie Clements | -6 | $12,500 | |
| 14 | Nick Price | -5 | $9,500 | |
| T15 | Philip Parkin | -4 | $8,250 | |
| T15 | Chip Beck | -4 | $8,250 | |
| T15 | Nick Faldo | -4 | $8,250 | |
| T15 | Wayne Grady | -4 | $8,250 | |
| T19 | Mike Hulbert | -3 | $6,060 | $6,060 |
| T19 | Donnie Hammond | -3 | $6,060 | $6,060 |
| T19 | Mike Donald | -3 | $6,060 | $6,060 |
| T19 | Steve Pate | -3 | $6,060 | $6,060 |
| T19 | Mike Sullivan | -3 | $6,060 | $6,060 |
| T24 | Howard Twitty | -2 | $4,050 | $4,050 |
| T24 | Frank Conner | -2 | $4,050 | $4,050 |
| T24 | David Frost | -2 | $4,050 | $4,050 |
| T24 | Mark Brooks | -2 | $4,050 | $4,050 |
| T24 | Mark Hayes | -2 | $4,050 | $4,050 |
| T24 | Gil Morgan | -2 | $4,050 | $4,050 |
| T30 | David Ogrin | -1 | $2,971 | $3,250 |
| T30 | Willie Wood | -1 | $2,971 | $3,250 |
| T30 | Mike Reid | -1 | $2,971 | $3,250 |
| T33 | Tim Norris | E | $2,825 | |
| T33 | Mark Lye | E | $2,825 | |
| T33 | Steve Bowman | E | $2,825 | |
| T36 | Bobby Clampett | +1 | $2,304 | |
| T36 | Antonio Cerdá | +1 | $2,304 | |
| T36 | Brad Faxon | +1 | $2,304 | |
| T36 | Steve Elkington | +1 | $2,304 | |
| T36 | Corey Pavin | +1 | $2,304 | |
| T36 | Lanny Wadkins | +1 | $2,304 | |
| T42 | Brett Upper | +2 | $1,700 | |
| T42 | Leonard Thompson | +2 | $1,700 | |
| T42 | Dave Rummells | +2 | $1,700 | |
| T42 | John Adams | +2 | $1,700 | |
| T42 | John Mahaffey | +2 | $1,700 | |
| T42 | Jack Nicklaus | +2 | $1,700 | |
| T48 | John McComish | +3 | $1,243 | $1,257 |
| T48 | Gary Hallberg | +3 | $1,243 | $1,257 |
| T48 | Rod Curl | +3 | $1,243 | $1,257 |
| T48 | Gene Sauers | +3 | $1,243 | $1,257 |
| T48 | Don Pooley | +3 | $1,243 | $1,257 |
| T48 | J. C. Snead | +3 | $1,243 | $1,257 |
| T54 | Rick Dalpos | +4 | $1,145 | |
| T54 | George Burns | +4 | $1,145 | |
| T54 | Tom Kite | +4 | $1,145 | |
| T54 | David Lundstrom | +4 | $1,145 | |
| T58 | Bob Lohr | +5 | $1,105 | |
| T58 | Brad Bryant | +5 | $1,105 | |
| T58 | Ronnie Black | +5 | $1,105 | |
| T58 | Tom Sieckmann | +5 | $1,105 | |
| T62 | Billy Pierot | +6 | $1,085 | $1,070 |
| T62 | Blaine McCallister | +6 | $1,085 | $1,070 |
| T62 | Lou Graham | +6 | $1,085 | $1,070 |
| T65 | Joe Inman | +7 | $1,045 | |
| T65 | Pat Lindsey | +7 | $1,045 | |
| 67 | Andrew Magee | +8 | $1,040 | $1,030 -1% |
| T68 | Brian Mogg | +9 | $1,030 | $1,015 |
| T68 | Bob Eastwood | +9 | $1,030 | $1,015 |
| T70 | Russ Cochran | +10 | $990 | |
| T70 | Loren Roberts | +10 | $990 | |
| T70 | Richard Zokol | +10 | $990 | |
| 73 | Bill Sander | +11 | $975 | $970 -1% |
| T74 | Mike Smith | +13 | $950 | |
| T74 | Tom Byrum | +13 | $950 | |
| T74 | Bobby Pancratz | +13 | $950 | |
| 77 | Davis Love III | +16 | $930 | |
| 78 | Mark Pfeil | +19 | $920 | |
| MC | Mark O'Meara | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | David Peoples | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Pernice Jr. | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Chris Perry | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Simons | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Sluman | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Rogers | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Eduardo Romero | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Clarence Rose | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Sneed | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Sowinski | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Thompson | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Dennis Trixler | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Tway | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Greg Twiggs | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Valentine | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Wadkins | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Adrian Stills | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Ron Streck | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Harry Taylor | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Wrenn | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Kermit Zarley | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Esteban Toledo | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Northcutt | +33 | $0 | |
| MC | Vern Novak | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike West | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Sandy Lyle | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Murphy | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Rocco Mediate | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Miles | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Kris Moe | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary McCord | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Hale Irwin | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Israelson | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Johnson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Jones | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Terry Kendrick | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Stu Ingraham | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | David Graham | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Kenny Knox | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Kratzert | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Krueger | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Greg Ladehoff | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Wayne Levi | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Lewis | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Ken Green | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Grygiel | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Denny Hepler | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Babe Hiskey | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Phillip Hancock | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Morris Hatalsky | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | T.M. Chen | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Phil Blackmar | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | George Archer | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Barr | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Danny Briggs | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Ray Brown | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Ken Brown | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Dent | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy Dillard | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Trevor Dodds | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Charlie Epps | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Fabel | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Cramer | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Eichelberger | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Fehr | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Keith Fergus | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Fiori | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Ray Floyd | +2 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Gallagher, Jr. | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Buddy Gardner | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Gibby Gilbert | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Gilder | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Gleeton | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Gove | +11 | $0 | |
| WD | Mike McCullough | +7 | Not known | |
| WD | Mike Nicolette | +6 | Not known |
Houston Open winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1986 Houston Open payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1986 Houston Open get?
Curtis Strange won $90,000 from a $500,000 purse.
What was the 1986 Houston Open purse?
$500,000.
How much did last place get at the 1986 Houston Open?
The smallest check was $920, to Mark Pfeil (78).
How many players made the cut at the 1986 Houston Open?
78 players made the cut and finished, and 75 players missed it.