Jack Nicklaus finished -9 and took 18% of the purse. That $144,000 is worth about $436,490 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1986 Masters Tournament purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 63% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1986 Masters Tournament 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 | -9 | $126,000 | $144,000 +14% |
| T2 | Greg Norman | -8 | $52,267 | $70,400 |
| T2 | Tom Kite | -8 | $52,267 | $70,400 |
| 4 | Seve Ballesteros | -7 | $38,400 | |
| 5 | Nick Price | -6 | $28,000 | $32,000 +14% |
| T6 | Tom Watson | -5 | $22,663 | $27,800 |
| T6 | Jay Haas | -5 | $22,663 | $27,800 |
| T8 | Bob Tway | -4 | $23,200 | |
| T8 | Payne Stewart | -4 | $23,200 | |
| T8 | Tommy Nakajima | -4 | $23,200 | |
| T11 | Corey Pavin | -3 | $16,960 | |
| T11 | Calvin Peete | -3 | $16,960 | |
| T11 | Donnie Hammond | -3 | $16,960 | |
| T11 | Sandy Lyle | -3 | $16,960 | |
| T11 | Mark McCumber | -3 | $16,960 | |
| T16 | Larry Mize | -2 | $11,550 | $12,000 |
| T16 | Gary Koch | -2 | $11,550 | $12,000 |
| T16 | Bernhard Langer | -2 | $11,550 | $12,000 |
| T16 | Dave Barr | -2 | $11,550 | $12,000 |
| T16 | Ben Crenshaw | -2 | $11,550 | $12,000 |
| T21 | Curtis Strange | -1 | $9,300 | |
| T21 | Fuzzy Zoeller | -1 | $9,300 | |
| T23 | Chen Tze-chung | E | $8,000 | |
| T23 | Roger Maltbie | E | $8,000 | |
| T25 | Peter Jacobsen | +1 | $5,670 | $6,533 |
| T25 | Bill Glasson | +1 | $5,670 | $6,533 |
| T25 | Scott Simpson | +1 | $5,670 | $6,533 |
| T28 | Johnny Miller | +2 | $5,667 | |
| T28 | David Graham | +2 | $5,667 | |
| T28 | Danny Edwards | +2 | $5,667 | |
| T31 | Fred Couples | +3 | $4,445 | $4,875 |
| T31 | Bruce Lietzke | +3 | $4,445 | $4,875 |
| T31 | Dan Pohl | +3 | $4,445 | $4,875 |
| T31 | Lanny Wadkins | +3 | $4,445 | $4,875 |
| 35 | Wayne Levi | +4 | $4,300 | |
| T36 | Rick Fehr | +5 | $3,612 | $3,850 |
| T36 | Hubert Green | +5 | $3,612 | $3,850 |
| T36 | Larry Nelson | +5 | $3,612 | $3,850 |
| T36 | Sam Randolph | +5 | $3,612 | Not known |
| T36 | Tony Sills | +5 | $3,612 | $3,850 |
| 41 | Don Pooley | +6 | $3,010 | $3,400 +13% |
| T42 | Billy Kratzert | +7 | $3,200 | |
| T42 | John Mahaffey | +7 | $3,200 | |
| 44 | Ken Green | +8 | $3,000 | |
| T45 | Phil Blackmar | +10 | $2,660 | $2,700 |
| T45 | Jim Thorpe | +10 | $2,660 | $2,700 |
| 47 | Lee Trevino | +11 | $2,115 | $2,500 +18% |
| 48 | Mark O'Meara | +13 | $2,300 | |
| MC | Arnold Palmer | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Renner | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Rinker | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Rogers | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Tim Simpson | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Joey Sindelar | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Craig Stadler | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Hal Sutton | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Tewell | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Peter Persons | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Player | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Mac O'Grady | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Denis Watson | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Verplank | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Lewis | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Sigel | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Kay Jr. | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Garth McGimpsey | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Michael Podolak | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Randy Sonnier | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Wiebe | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Gay Brewer | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | George Burns | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Casper | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy Bean | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Aaron | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Isao Aoki | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | George Archer | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | T.M. Chen | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Charles Coody | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Chip Drury | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Eastwood | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Ray Floyd | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Ford | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Dan Forsman | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Buddy Gardner | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Kenny Knox | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Goalby | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Gary Hallberg | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Hale Irwin | +8 | $0 |
Masters Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1986 Masters Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1986 Masters Tournament get?
Jack Nicklaus won $144,000 from a $785,000 purse.
What was the 1986 Masters Tournament purse?
$785,000.
How much did last place get at the 1986 Masters Tournament?
The smallest check was $2,300, to Mark O'Meara (48).
How many players made the cut at the 1986 Masters Tournament?
48 players made the cut and finished, and 40 players missed it.