Larry Nelson finished -1 and took 17% of the purse. That $150,000 is worth about $438,604 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1987 PGA Championship purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 70% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1987 PGA Championship 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 | Larry Nelson | -1 | $140,000 | $150,000 +7% |
| 2 | Lanny Wadkins | -1 | $80,000 | $90,000 +12% |
| T3 | D.A. Weibring | E | $60,000 | $58,750 |
| T3 | Scott Hoch | E | $60,000 | $58,750 |
| T5 | Mark McCumber | +1 | $32,500 | $37,500 |
| T5 | Don Pooley | +1 | $32,500 | $37,500 |
| T7 | Ben Crenshaw | +2 | $20,833 | $27,500 |
| T7 | Bobby Wadkins | +2 | $20,833 | $27,500 |
| 9 | Curtis Strange | +3 | $22,500 | |
| T10 | David Frost | +4 | $15,000 | $17,000 |
| T10 | Seve Ballesteros | +4 | $15,000 | $17,000 |
| T10 | Nick Price | +4 | $15,000 | $17,000 |
| T10 | Tom Kite | +4 | $15,000 | $17,000 |
| T14 | Curt Byrum | +5 | $10,750 | |
| T14 | Ray Floyd | +5 | $10,750 | |
| T14 | David Edwards | +5 | $10,750 | |
| T14 | Dan Pohl | +5 | $10,750 | |
| T14 | Jeff Sluman | +5 | $10,750 | |
| T14 | Tom Watson | +5 | $10,750 | |
| 20 | Peter Jacobsen | +6 | $8,500 | |
| T21 | Bernhard Langer | +7 | $6,120 | $7,500 |
| T21 | Gil Morgan | +7 | $6,120 | $7,500 |
| T21 | Jim Hallet | +7 | $6,120 | $7,500 |
| T24 | Payne Stewart | +8 | $5,975 | |
| T24 | Gene Sauers | +8 | $5,975 | |
| T24 | Jack Nicklaus | +8 | $5,975 | |
| T24 | Ken Brown | +8 | $5,975 | |
| T28 | Ronnie Black | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Bobby Clampett | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Russ Cochran | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | John Cook | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Brad Fabel | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Nick Faldo | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Roger Maltbie | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Chris Perry | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Bruce Lietzke | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Jay Haas | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Hal Sutton | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T28 | Craig Stadler | +9 | $4,383 | |
| T40 | Robert Wrenn | +10 | $3,400 | |
| T40 | Denis Watson | +10 | $3,400 | |
| T40 | Phil Blackmar | +10 | $3,400 | |
| T43 | Bobby Cole | +11 | $3,050 | |
| T43 | Buddy Gardner | +11 | $3,050 | |
| T43 | Mac O'Grady | +11 | $3,050 | |
| T43 | Tim Simpson | +11 | $3,050 | |
| T47 | Scott Simpson | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Bob Tway | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Tom Purtzer | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Mike Reid | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Donnie Hammond | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Fred Funk | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Chen Tze-chung | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Tom Byrum | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T47 | Bob Betley | +12 | $2,250 | $2,400 |
| T56 | Chip Beck | +13 | $1,856 | |
| T56 | Hubert Green | +13 | $1,856 | |
| T56 | Morris Hatalsky | +13 | $1,856 | |
| T56 | Lonnie Nielsen | +13 | $1,856 | |
| T56 | Mike Sullivan | +13 | $1,856 | |
| T61 | Jim Woodward | +14 | $1,740 | |
| T61 | Steve Pate | +14 | $1,740 | |
| T61 | Steve Jones | +14 | $1,740 | |
| 64 | Fuzzy Zoeller | +15 | $1,700 | |
| T65 | Mark Wiebe | +18 | $1,600 | $1,650 |
| T65 | John Mahaffey | +18 | $1,600 | $1,650 |
| T65 | Arnold Palmer | +18 | $1,600 | $1,650 |
| T65 | Andy Bean | +18 | $1,600 | $1,650 |
| 69 | Ray Freeman | +19 | $1,560 | $1,600 +3% |
| 70 | Greg Norman | +21 | $1,550 | $1,600 +3% |
| 71 | Lindy Miller | +23 | $1,550 | $1,600 +3% |
| 72 | John Jackson | +25 | $1,550 | $1,600 +3% |
| 73 | Lon Hinkle | +30 | $1,600 | |
| MC | Gary Hallberg | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Hayes | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Hulbert | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Kallam | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Kenny Knox | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Pat McGowan | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Lohr | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Davis Love III | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Lendzion | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Wayne Levi | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Mize | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Blaine McCallister | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Jodie Mudd | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Nakajima | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy North | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark O'Meara | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Overton | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Don Padgett | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Dwight Nevil | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Corey Pavin | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Petralia | +27 | $0 | |
| MC | Clarence Rose | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Paul Ryiz | +24 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike San Filippo | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Dana Quigley | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Dan Forsman | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Rodger Davis | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Danny Edwards | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Faxon | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Fehr | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Ken Green | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Groff | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Gibby Gilbert | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Larry Gilbert | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Dick Goetz | +29 | $0 | |
| MC | Ted Goin | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Ernie Gonzalez | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | David Graham | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Isao Aoki | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Paul Azinger | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Bailey | +24 | $0 | |
| MC | George Burns | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Calcavecchia | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Keith Clearwater | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Lennie Clements | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Fred Couples | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Fred Wadsworth | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Schuchart | +22 | $0 | |
| MC | Tony Milam | +26 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Brannen | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Ian Woosnam | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Bruce Lehnhard | +22 | $0 | |
| MC | José María Olazábal | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Kiefer | +28 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Wargo | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | David Glenz | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Pete Oakley | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Acton | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | David Gosiewski | +21 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Heckel | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack McKelvey | +29 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Oulds | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Tatum | +20 | $0 | |
| MC | Doug Tewell | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Thorpe | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Howard Twitty | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Steven Veriato | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Seltzer | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Tony Sills | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Joey Sindelar | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | J. C. Snead | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Stewart Wheeler | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Stockton | +15 | $0 | |
| DQ | James Blair III | Not known | ||
| WD | Calvin Peete | +3 | Not known | |
| WD | Mark McNulty | +5 | Not known | |
| WD | Johnny Miller | +4 | Not known |
PGA Championship winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1987 PGA Championship payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1987 PGA Championship get?
Larry Nelson won $150,000 from a $900,000 purse.
What was the 1987 PGA Championship purse?
$900,000.
How much did last place get at the 1987 PGA Championship?
The smallest check was $1,600, to Lon Hinkle (73).
How many players made the cut at the 1987 PGA Championship?
73 players made the cut and finished, and 73 players missed it.