Tom Kite finished -9 and took 18% of the purse. That $243,000 is worth about $651,263 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1989 The Players Championship 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.
1989 The Players 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 | Tom Kite | -9 | $225,000 | $243,000 +8% |
| 2 | Chip Beck | -8 | $135,000 | $145,800 +8% |
| 3 | Bruce Lietzke | -7 | $65,000 | $91,800 +41% |
| T4 | Greg Norman | -6 | $59,400 | |
| T4 | Fred Couples | -6 | $59,400 | |
| T6 | Mark McCumber | -5 | $43,438 | $46,912 |
| T6 | Gil Morgan | -5 | $43,438 | $46,912 |
| T8 | Gary Koch | -4 | $36,250 | $39,150 |
| T8 | David Frost | -4 | $36,250 | $39,150 |
| T8 | Andy Bean | -4 | $36,250 | $39,150 |
| T11 | Ben Crenshaw | -3 | $26,500 | $31,050 |
| T11 | Rocco Mediate | -3 | $26,500 | $31,050 |
| T11 | Tom Watson | -3 | $26,500 | $31,050 |
| T14 | Loren Roberts | -2 | $24,300 | |
| T14 | Fulton Allem | -2 | $24,300 | |
| T14 | Paul Azinger | -2 | $24,300 | |
| T17 | Brad Faxon | -1 | $19,575 | |
| T17 | Tim Simpson | -1 | $19,575 | |
| T17 | Mike Sullivan | -1 | $19,575 | |
| T17 | Mark Wiebe | -1 | $19,575 | |
| T21 | D.A. Weibring | E | $12,673 | |
| T21 | Craig Stadler | E | $12,673 | |
| T21 | Larry Rinker | E | $12,673 | |
| T21 | Mike Donald | E | $12,673 | |
| T21 | David Edwards | E | $12,673 | |
| T21 | Chris Perry | E | $12,673 | |
| T21 | Kenny Perry | E | $12,673 | |
| T21 | Ken Green | E | $12,673 | |
| T29 | Jack Nicklaus | +1 | $8,775 | |
| T29 | Mike Reid | +1 | $8,775 | |
| T29 | Hal Sutton | +1 | $8,775 | |
| T29 | Ted Schulz | +1 | $8,775 | |
| T29 | Bob Tway | +1 | $8,775 | |
| T34 | Curtis Strange | +2 | $6,908 | $6,673 |
| T34 | Doug Tewell | +2 | $6,908 | $6,673 |
| T34 | Joey Sindelar | +2 | $6,908 | $6,673 |
| T34 | Steve Pate | +2 | $6,908 | $6,673 |
| T34 | Corey Pavin | +2 | $6,908 | $6,673 |
| T34 | Jim Gallagher, Jr. | +2 | $6,908 | $6,673 |
| T34 | Bob Gilder | +2 | $6,908 | $6,673 |
| T41 | Keith Clearwater | +3 | $5,130 | |
| T41 | Steve Jones | +3 | $5,130 | |
| T41 | Roger Maltbie | +3 | $5,130 | |
| T41 | Lanny Wadkins | +3 | $5,130 | |
| T45 | Fuzzy Zoeller | +4 | $3,875 | $3,953 |
| T45 | John Mahaffey | +4 | $3,875 | $3,953 |
| T45 | David Ogrin | +4 | $3,875 | $3,953 |
| T45 | Masashi Ozaki | +4 | $3,875 | $3,953 |
| T45 | Jim Carter | +4 | $3,875 | $3,953 |
| T50 | Gary Hallberg | +5 | $3,256 | |
| T50 | Dan Pohl | +5 | $3,256 | |
| T50 | Wayne Levi | +5 | $3,256 | |
| T50 | Richard Zokol | +5 | $3,256 | |
| T50 | Clarence Rose | +5 | $3,256 | |
| T55 | Tom Purtzer | +6 | $3,064 | |
| T55 | Gene Sauers | +6 | $3,064 | |
| T55 | Kenny Knox | +6 | $3,064 | |
| T55 | Mark Hayes | +6 | $3,064 | |
| T59 | Mike Hulbert | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T59 | Dan Halldorson | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T59 | Ed Fiori | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T59 | Billy Ray Brown | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T59 | Brad Bryant | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T59 | Bob Lohr | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T59 | Larry Nelson | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T59 | Greg Twiggs | +7 | $2,902 | |
| T67 | John McComish | +8 | $2,754 | |
| T67 | Bernhard Langer | +8 | $2,754 | |
| T67 | Tom Byrum | +8 | $2,754 | |
| T70 | Peter Jacobsen | +9 | $2,686 | |
| T70 | Larry Mize | +9 | $2,686 | |
| 72 | David Graham | +10 | $2,475 | $2,646 +7% |
| 73 | Dave Barr | +11 | $2,619 | |
| 74 | Bill Britton | +13 | $2,592 | |
| MC | Mark Brooks | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Benepe | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Ronnie Black | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Phil Blackmar | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Don Blake | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Ian Baker-Finch | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Isao Aoki | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | George Archer | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Armour III | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Calcavecchia | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Rex Caldwell | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | David Canipe | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Curt Byrum | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Chen Tze-chung | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Clampett | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Lennie Clements | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Russ Cochran | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | John Cook | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Hubert Green | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Donnie Hammond | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Morris Hatalsky | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | John Huston | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Hale Irwin | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Lon Hinkle | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Hoch | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Ray Floyd | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Dan Forsman | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Buddy Gardner | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Eichelberger | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Elkington | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Fabel | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Eastwood | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Tim Norris | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Andy North | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark O'Meara | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Johnny Miller | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Jodie Mudd | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Nakajima | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Don Pooley | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Nick Price | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Jerry Pate | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Calvin Peete | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Haas | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Dick Mast | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Mayfair | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Blaine McCallister | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Davis Love III | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark Lye | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Sandy Lyle | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Andrew Magee | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Howard Twitty | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Verplank | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Wadkins | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Leonard Thompson | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Denis Watson | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Wrenn | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Hallet | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Wayne Grady | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Payne Stewart | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Brian Tennyson | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Sluman | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | J. C. Snead | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Sieckmann | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Simpson | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Sam Randolph | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Don Reese | +3 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Rummells | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Sander | +9 | $0 | |
| DQ | Bill Rogers | Not known | ||
| WD | Bill Glasson | +4 | Not known |
The Players Championship winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1989 The Players Championship payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1989 The Players Championship get?
Tom Kite won $243,000 from a $1,350,000 purse.
What was the 1989 The Players Championship purse?
$1,350,000.
How much did last place get at the 1989 The Players Championship?
The smallest check was $2,592, to Bill Britton (74).
How many players made the cut at the 1989 The Players Championship?
74 players made the cut and finished, and 68 players missed it.