Payne Stewart finished -6 and took 18% of the purse. That $235,000 is worth about $573,288 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1991 U.S. Open purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 55% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1991 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 | Payne Stewart | -6 | $220,000 | $235,000 +7% |
| 2 | Scott Simpson | -6 | $110,000 | $117,500 +7% |
| T3 | Larry Nelson | -3 | $56,878 | $62,574 |
| T3 | Fred Couples | -3 | $56,878 | $62,574 |
| 5 | Fuzzy Zoeller | -2 | $33,271 | $41,542 +25% |
| 6 | Scott Hoch | -1 | $36,090 | |
| 7 | Nolan Henke | E | $32,176 | |
| T8 | Ray Floyd | +1 | $22,237 | $26,958 |
| T8 | Corey Pavin | +1 | $22,237 | $26,958 |
| T8 | José María Olazábal | +1 | $22,237 | $26,958 |
| T11 | D.A. Weibring | +2 | $20,909 | |
| T11 | Craig Parry | +2 | $20,909 | |
| T11 | Hale Irwin | +2 | $20,909 | |
| T11 | Davis Love III | +2 | $20,909 | |
| T11 | Jim Gallagher, Jr. | +2 | $20,909 | |
| T16 | Nick Faldo | +3 | $17,186 | |
| T16 | Sandy Lyle | +3 | $17,186 | |
| T16 | Tom Watson | +3 | $17,186 | |
| T19 | Peter Persons | +4 | $14,167 | |
| T19 | Nick Price | +4 | $14,167 | |
| T19 | Tom Sieckmann | +4 | $14,167 | |
| T19 | Craig Stadler | +4 | $14,167 | |
| T19 | John Cook | +4 | $14,167 | |
| T19 | Mark Brooks | +4 | $14,167 | |
| T19 | Billy Ray Brown | +4 | $14,167 | |
| T26 | Rick Fehr | +5 | $11,712 | |
| T26 | Tim Simpson | +5 | $11,712 | |
| T26 | Mike Reid | +5 | $11,712 | |
| T26 | Jodie Mudd | +5 | $11,712 | |
| T26 | Bob Tway | +5 | $11,712 | |
| T31 | Lance Ten Broeck | +6 | $10,133 | |
| T31 | Chris Perry | +6 | $10,133 | |
| T31 | Dave Rummells | +6 | $10,133 | |
| T31 | Ed Humenik | +6 | $10,133 | |
| T31 | Peter Jacobsen | +6 | $10,133 | |
| T31 | Brian Kamm | +6 | $10,133 | |
| T37 | Buddy Gardner | +7 | $8,560 | |
| T37 | Mark Calcavecchia | +7 | $8,560 | |
| T37 | Keith Clearwater | +7 | $8,560 | |
| T37 | Tom Purtzer | +7 | $8,560 | |
| T37 | Andy North | +7 | $8,560 | |
| T37 | Tom Kite | +7 | $8,560 | |
| T37 | Billy Mayfair | +7 | $8,560 | |
| T44 | Ian Baker-Finch | +8 | $7,478 | |
| T44 | Jim Hallet | +8 | $7,478 | |
| T46 | Rodger Davis | +9 | $6,687 | $6,876 |
| T46 | Blaine McCallister | +9 | $6,687 | $6,876 |
| T46 | Jack Nicklaus | +9 | $6,687 | $6,876 |
| T49 | Wayne Levi | +10 | $6,034 | |
| T49 | Steve Pate | +10 | $6,034 | |
| T49 | Loren Roberts | +10 | $6,034 | |
| T49 | Mike Harwood | +10 | $6,034 | |
| T53 | John Inman | +11 | $5,389 | |
| T53 | Larry Rinker | +11 | $5,389 | |
| T55 | Phil Mickelson | +12 | Not known | |
| T55 | Larry Mize | +12 | $5,164 | |
| T55 | Steve Elkington | +12 | $5,164 | |
| T55 | Steve Gotsche | +12 | $5,164 | |
| T55 | Ian Woosnam | +12 | $5,164 | |
| 60 | David Graham | +14 | $5,008 | |
| 61 | Stan Utley | +15 | $4,530 | $4,958 +9% |
| 62 | John Adams | +16 | $4,958 | |
| T63 | Wayne Grady | +17 | $4,507 | $4,958 |
| T63 | Terry Snodgrass | +17 | $4,507 | $4,958 |
| T63 | Lanny Wadkins | +17 | $4,507 | $4,958 |
| MC | Bruce Zabriski | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Vershure | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Bobby Wadkins | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Brian Tennyson | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Trevino | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Kirk Triplett | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Tuten | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim McGovern | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Mitch Adcock | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Eric Booker | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | John Ross | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Gump | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Dicky Thompson | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Sherfy | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Price | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Bryan Norton | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | John Wilson | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Jerry Foltz | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Rocky Walcher | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Tim Robyn | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Tommy Tolles | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Chris Endres | +21 | $0 | |
| MC | Frank Dobbs | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Terry Dear | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Cary Hungate | +12 | $0 | |
| MC | Allen Doyle | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Jon Hough | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Scott Beaugureau | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeb Stuart | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Lasken | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Eric Johnson | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Michael Weeks | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Paul Oglesby | +23 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Gunning | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Lee | +14 | $0 | |
| MC | Joe Hajduch | +19 | $0 | |
| MC | Rick Osberg | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | George Daves | +23 | $0 | |
| MC | James Detrixhe | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Clay Devers | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Louie Garcia | +16 | $0 | |
| MC | Chris Gorgone | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Dennis Zinkon | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Ray Stewart | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Curtis Strange | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Hal Sutton | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Jeff Sluman | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Dan Halldorson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Sam Randolph | +15 | $0 | |
| MC | Gil Morgan | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark McCumber | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Rocco Mediate | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Meyer | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Bernhard Langer | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | David Jackson | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Andrew Magee | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Jerry Pate | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Mark O'Meara | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Overton | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | Masashi Ozaki | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | John Paesani | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Ferenz | +13 | $0 | |
| MC | Robert Gamez | +10 | $0 | |
| MC | David Frost | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Fred Funk | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | John Huston | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Jack Kay Jr. | +18 | $0 | |
| MC | Darrell Kestner | +17 | $0 | |
| MC | Lee Janzen | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Steve Jones | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Fulton Allem | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Billy Andrade | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Paul Azinger | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Byrum | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Seve Ballesteros | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Dave Barr | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Chip Beck | +8 | $0 | |
| MC | Jim Benepe | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Phil Blackmar | +9 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Boyd | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Bill Britton | +7 | $0 | |
| MC | Bob Estes | +4 | $0 | |
| MC | Tom Eubank | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Brad Faxon | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Jay Delsing | +5 | $0 | |
| MC | Mike Donald | +6 | $0 | |
| MC | Ed Dougherty | +11 | $0 | |
| MC | Jon Chaffee | +5 | $0 | |
| WD | Ken Green | +9 | Not known | |
| WD | Greg Norman | +4 | Not known | |
| WD | Ronan Rafferty | +15 | Not known |
U.S. Open winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1991 U.S. Open payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1991 U.S. Open get?
Payne Stewart won $235,000 from a $1,300,000 purse.
What was the 1991 U.S. Open purse?
$1,300,000.
How much did last place get at the 1991 U.S. Open?
The smallest check was $4,958, to Lanny Wadkins (T63).
How many players made the cut at the 1991 U.S. Open?
65 players made the cut and finished, and 88 players missed it.