Larry Nelson Career Earnings & Prize Money

Larry Nelson's prize money by season

Larry Nelson's official prize money in the 20 seasons with published figures, 1979–1998. The chart shows dollars of the day. The table adds each season in 2026 dollars.

Season	Money list	Official prize money	In 2026 dollars
1998	No. 267	$11,400	$23,235
1997	No. 117	$196,981	$407,718
1996	No. 70	$305,083	$646,232
1995	No. 214	$40,689	$88,715
1994	No. 175	$66,831	$149,800
1993	No. 177	$54,870	$126,197
1992	No. 135	$94,930	$224,776
1991	No. 96	$160,543	$391,648
1990	No. 124	$124,260	$315,973
1989	No. 79	$186,869	$500,827
1988	No. 25	$411,284	$1,155,488
1987	No. 14	$501,292	$1,465,791
1986	No. 69	$124,338	$376,891
1985	No. 54	$143,993	$444,753
1984	No. 42	$154,689	$494,731
1983	No. 40	$138,368	$461,564
1982	No. 21	$159,134	$547,887
1981	No. 10	$193,342	$706,477
1980	No. 11	$182,715	$736,645
1979	No. 2	$281,022	$1,286,496

Larry Nelson at the majors and The Players

Larry Nelson's finishes in golf's biggest events, with the prize money wherever it was published.

Year	Tournament	Finish	Prize money	In 2026 dollars
1999	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1998	The Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1998	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	T52	$5,310	$10,822
1997	PGA Championship	T71	$3,875	$8,021
1997	Motorola Western Open	MC	$0	—
1997	U.S. Open	MC	$0	—
1997	MasterCard Colonial	T33	$8,100	$16,766
1997	GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1997	Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic	MC	$0	—
1997	MCI Classic	MC	$0	—
1997	The Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1997	Bay Hill Invitational	MC	$0	—
1997	Nissan Open	T20	$14,600	$30,220
1997	Phoenix Open	MC	$0	—
1997	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	MC	$0	—
1996	Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic	MC	$0	—
1996	Las Vegas Invitational	MC	$0	—
1996	Quad City Classic	T14	$20,400	$43,212
1996	PGA Championship	WD	Not known	—
1996	Motorola Western Open	MC	$0	—
1996	Canon Greater Hartford Open	T25	$11,700	$24,783
1996	Memorial Tournament	T39	$7,560	$16,014
1996	MasterCard Colonial	T20	$14,683	$31,103
1996	GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1996	Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic	T67	$3,618	$7,664
1996	MCI Classic	T8	$37,800	$80,069
1996	The Players Championship	T62	$7,490	$15,865
1996	Bay Hill Invitational	T9	$31,200	$66,088
1996	Honda Classic	T44	$3,837	$8,127
1996	United Airlines Hawaiian Open	T11	$25,440	$53,887
1996	Buick Invitational	MC	$0	—
1996	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	T21	$11,873	$25,150
1995	LaCantera Texas Open	MC	$0	—
1995	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1995	Motorola Western Open	MC	$0	—
1995	Canon Greater Hartford Open	MC	$0	—
1995	Memorial Tournament	MC	$0	—
1995	Colonial National Invitation	MC	$0	—
1995	GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic	T81	$2,301	$5,017
1995	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	MC	$0	—
1995	MCI Classic	T72	$2,522	$5,499
1995	The Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1995	Nestle Invitational	T49	$2,994	$6,528
1995	Honda Classic	MC	$0	—
1995	Buick Invitational of California	T79	$2,172	$4,736
1995	AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am	MC	$0	—
1994	Las Vegas Invitational	MC	$0	—
1994	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1994	U.S. Open	MC	$0	—
1994	Memorial Tournament	T30	$9,315	$20,879
1994	GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1994	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	66	$3,120	$6,993
1994	MCI Heritage Golf Classic	T71	$2,462	$5,520
1994	The Players Championship	T55	$5,600	$12,552
1994	Nestle Invitational	T74	$2,316	$5,191
1994	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	MC	$0	—
1994	AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am	MC	$0	—
1993	H.E.B. Texas Open	T61	$2,170	$4,991
1993	PGA Championship	T56	$3,110	$7,153
1993	Sprint Western Open	T13	$21,200	$48,758
1993	U.S. Open	T46	$8,179	$18,811
1993	Memorial Tournament	T60	$3,066	$7,052
1993	GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1993	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	MC	$0	—
1993	MCI Heritage Golf Classic	T25	$9,187	$21,130
1993	The Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1993	Nestle Invitational	MC	$0	—
1993	Nissan Los Angeles Open	MC	$0	—
1992	H.E.B. Texas Open	T54	$2,034	$4,816
1992	PGA Championship	T28	$9,000	$21,310
1992	Centel Western Open	T48	$2,791	$6,609
1992	U.S. Open	MC	$0	—
1992	Memorial Tournament	T68	$2,626	$6,218
1992	BellSouth Classic	MC	$0	—
1992	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	MC	$0	—
1992	MCI Heritage Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1992	Masters Tournament	DQ	Not known	—
1992	The Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1992	Nestle Invitational	T14	$17,500	$41,437
1991	Las Vegas Invitational	MC	$0	—
1991	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1991	Centel Western Open	MC	$0	—
1991	U.S. Open	T3	$62,574	$152,651
1991	Memorial Tournament	T54	$2,748	$6,704
1991	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	MC	$0	—
1991	MCI Heritage Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1991	Masters Tournament	55	$3,100	$7,563
1991	The Players Championship	T23	$14,720	$35,910
1991	Nestle Invitational	MC	$0	—
1991	Nissan Los Angeles Open	T43	$2,871	$7,004
1990	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1990	U.S. Open	T14	$15,712	$39,954
1990	Centel Western Open	MC	$0	—
1990	Memorial Tournament	WD	Not known	—
1990	GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic	T40	$3,333	$8,475
1990	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	T47	$3,172	$8,066
1990	Masters Tournament	48	$3,600	$9,154
1990	Nestle Invitational	T13	$16,875	$42,910
1990	The Players Championship	T16	$20,362	$51,778
1989	PGA Championship	T46	$3,220	$8,630
1989	Beatrice Western Open	MC	$0	—
1989	U.S. Open	T13	$15,634	$41,901
1989	Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic	T32	$5,788	$15,511
1989	Memorial Tournament	T8	$26,610	$71,317
1989	GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic	2	$108,000	$289,450
1989	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	T73	$1,910	$5,119
1989	MCI Heritage Golf Classic	T19	$10,040	$26,908
1989	Masters Tournament	MC	$0	—
1989	The Players Championship	T59	$2,902	$7,779
1989	Honda Classic	T47	$2,152	$5,768
1989	Hawaiian Open	T19	$7,067	$18,941
1989	Phoenix Open	MC	$0	—
1988	Nabisco Championship	T26	$33,400	$93,836
1988	PGA Championship	T38	$3,211	$9,021
1988	The Open Championship	T13	$24,938 £14,000	$70,062
1988	Beatrice Western Open	T32	$4,670	$13,120
1988	U.S. Open	T62	$3,691	$10,370
1988	Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic	T13	$23,800	$66,865
1988	Memorial Tournament	T22	$8,978	$25,224
1988	MCI Heritage Golf Classic	T13	$12,000	$33,714
1988	Masters Tournament	T33	$5,667	$15,921
1988	KMart Greater Greensboro Open	T71	$1,950	$5,478
1988	The Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1988	Hawaiian Open	T17	$8,120	$22,813
1988	Phoenix Open	WD	Not known	—
1988	MONY Tournament of Champions	2	$54,000	$151,711
1987	Nabisco Championship	T21	$36,800	$107,604
1987	Beatrice Western Open	T2	$70,400	$205,851
1987	PGA Championship	1	$150,000	$438,604
1987	U.S. Open	MC	$0	—
1987	Memorial Tournament	T6	$26,038	$76,137
1987	Colonial National Invitation	T64	$1,236	$3,614
1987	Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational	MC	$0	—
1987	MCI Heritage Golf Classic	T8	$17,550	$51,317
1987	Masters Tournament	MC	$0	—
1987	Greater Greensboro Open	T30	$3,488	$10,198
1987	Tournament Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1987	Hertz Bay Hill Classic	T50	$1,461	$4,272
1987	Los Angeles Open	MC	$0	—
1987	Hawaiian Open	T18	$8,400	$24,562
1987	Phoenix Open	T74	$1,146	$3,351
1987	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	MC	$0	—
1986	Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic	T35	$5,170	$15,672
1986	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1986	Western Open	MC	$0	—
1986	Buick Open	MC	$0	—
1986	U.S. Open	T35	$5,170	$15,672
1986	Kemper Open	MC	$0	—
1986	Memorial Tournament	MC	$0	—
1986	Byron Nelson Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1986	Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational	T3	$66,700	$202,180
1986	Masters Tournament	T36	$3,850	$11,670
1986	Greater Greensboro Open	T43	$1,461	$4,429
1986	Tournament Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1986	USF&G Classic	T58	$1,115	$3,380
1986	Hertz Bay Hill Classic	MC	$0	—
1986	Los Angeles Open	MC	$0	—
1986	Hawaiian Open	MC	$0	—
1986	AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am	MC	$0	—
1986	Phoenix Open	T35	$2,258	$6,845
1986	Bob Hope Chrysler Classic	MC	$0	—
1985	PGA Championship	T23	$5,260	$16,247
1985	Western Open	T41	$1,950	$6,023
1985	U.S. Open	T39	$4,433	$13,693
1985	Memorial Tournament	T68	$1,515	$4,679
1985	Colonial National Invitation	T15	$8,250	$25,482
1985	MONY Tournament of Champions	6	$18,250	$56,369
1985	Sea Pines Heritage	6	$14,400	$44,477
1985	Masters Tournament	T36	$3,612	$11,156
1985	Tournament Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1985	Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational	MC	$0	—
1985	Hertz Bay Hill Classic	T5	$18,250	$56,369
1985	Hawaiian Open	T9	$13,000	$40,153
1985	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	T25	$3,900	$12,046
1985	Phoenix Open	T66	$927	$2,863
1985	Bob Hope Classic	T24	$3,957	$12,223
1984	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1984	Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open	T26	$3,140	$10,042
1984	Western Open	T13	$8,000	$25,586
1984	U.S. Open	MC	$0	—
1984	Memorial Tournament	T8	$15,000	$47,973
1984	Colonial National Invitation	T33	$2,586	$8,270
1984	MONY Tournament of Champions	T9	$11,500	$36,780
1984	Masters Tournament	5	$24,000	$76,757
1984	Tournament Players Championship	T62	$1,720	$5,501
1984	USF&G Classic	MC	$0	—
1984	Honda Classic	T19	$5,643	$18,047
1984	Los Angeles Open	T14	$7,200	$23,027
1984	Hawaiian Open	MC	$0	—
1984	Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego Open	MC	$0	—
1984	Phoenix Open	MC	$0	—
1983	Panasonic Las Vegas Pro Celebrity Classic	T65	$1,538	$5,129
1983	PGA Championship	T36	$2,088	$6,963
1983	Western Open	T13	$7,500	$25,018
1983	U.S. Open	1	$72,000	$240,175
1983	Memorial Tournament	MC	$0	—
1983	Byron Nelson Golf Classic	MC	$0	—
1983	Masters Tournament	MC	$0	—
1983	Greater Greensboro Open	MC	$0	—
1983	Tournament Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1983	USF&G Classic	T38	$1,560	$5,204
1983	Bay Hill Classic	T11	$8,050	$26,853
1983	Honda Inverrary Classic	WD	Not known	—
1983	Hawaiian Open	MC	$0	—
1983	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	MC	$0	—
1983	Phoenix Open	T24	$2,708	$9,034
1983	Bob Hope Desert Classic	T31	$2,081	$6,943
1982	Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open	T28	$1,792	$6,169
1982	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1982	Canadian Open	T5	$13,919	$47,923
1982	The Open Championship	T32	$2,937 £1,680	$10,112
1982	Western Open	2	$37,800	$130,143
1982	U.S. Open	T19	$4,008	$13,800
1982	Memorial Tournament	WD	Not known	—
1982	Colonial National Invitation	T42	$1,018	$3,504
1982	MONY Tournament of Champions	T20	$4,775	$16,440
1982	Masters Tournament	T7	$11,067	$38,103
1982	Greater Greensboro Open	MC	$0	—
1982	Sea Pines Heritage	T28	$2,085	$7,179
1982	Tournament Players Championship	T10	$12,500	$43,037
1982	Bay Hill Classic	T11	$6,150	$21,174
1982	Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open	T32	$3,040	$10,467
1982	Hawaiian Open	T16	$4,712	$16,225
1982	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	MC	$0	—
1982	Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open	MC	$0	—
1982	Phoenix Open	T4	$12,400	$42,692
1982	Bob Hope Desert Classic	MC	$0	—
1982	Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open	T7	$11,067	$38,103
1981	PGA Championship	1	$60,000	$219,242
1981	Canadian Open	T23	$3,782	$13,821
1981	Western Open	MC	$0	—
1981	U.S. Open	T20	$2,550	$9,318
1981	Atlanta Classic	MC	$0	—
1981	Memorial Tournament	T46	$1,830	$6,687
1981	Colonial National Invitation	T63	$627	$2,291
1981	Byron Nelson Golf Classic	T11	$6,360	$23,240
1981	Michelob-Houston Open	T23	$2,336	$8,537
1981	MONY Tournament of Champions	5	$15,000	$54,810
1981	Masters Tournament	MC	$0	—
1981	Greater Greensboro Open	1	$54,000	$197,318
1981	Sea Pines Heritage	MC	$0	—
1981	Tournament Players Championship	MC	$0	—
1981	American Motors Inverrary Classic	T19	$3,510	$12,826
1981	Bay Hill Classic	T54	$693	$2,532
1981	Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open	T26	$2,194	$8,016
1981	Hawaiian Open	T15	$5,362	$19,595
1981	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	T11	$4,612	$16,854
1981	Phoenix Open	T23	$2,410	$8,806
1981	Bob Hope Desert Classic	T43	$875	$3,197
1980	San Antonio Texas Open	MC	$0	—
1980	World Series of Golf	T31	$1,779	$7,172
1980	Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic	T60	$860	$3,467
1980	PGA Championship	MC	$0	—
1980	IVB-Golf Classic	T25	$2,290	$9,233
1980	Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open	MC	$0	—
1980	Western Open	T45	$932	$3,759
1980	U.S. Open	T58	$1,310	$5,281
1980	Colonial National Invitation	MC	$0	—
1980	Byron Nelson Golf Classic	T4	$11,000	$44,348
1980	Greater New Orleans Open	T12	$10,200	$41,123
1980	MONY Tournament of Champions	T15	$6,250	$25,198
1980	Masters Tournament	T6	$9,958	$40,147
1980	Greater Greensboro Open	T60	$542	$2,187
1980	Tournament Players Championship	DQ	Not known	—
1980	Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic	T4	$13,200	$53,218
1980	Bay Hill Classic	T12	$5,529	$22,289
1980	Hawaiian Open	6	$11,700	$47,170
1980	Bing Crosby National Pro-Am	T3	$14,400	$58,056
1980	Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational	T27	$1,629	$6,568
1980	Phoenix Open	T17	$3,540	$14,272
1980	Bob Hope Desert Classic	4	$13,200	$53,218
1979	U.S. Open	T4	$13,733	$62,869
1979	Masters Tournament	T31	$1,975	$9,041
1979	Tournament Players Championship	T20	$4,035	$18,472
1978	Tournament Players Championship	T4	$11,700	$59,590
1977	Tournament Players Championship	T8	$8,150	$44,677

Larry Nelson's PGA Tour wins

10 wins on record, 1979–1988, with each tournament's total purse. Our season schedules start in 1958.

Season	Tournament	Purse
1988	Georgia-Pacific Atlanta Golf Classic	$700,000
1987	Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic	$600,000
1987	PGA Championship	$900,000
1984	Walt Disney World Golf Classic	$400,000
1983	U.S. Open	$500,000
1981	PGA Championship	$400,000
1981	Greater Greensboro Open	$300,000
1980	Atlanta Classic	$300,000
1979	Western Open	$300,000
1979	Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic	$300,000

Larry Nelson's wins, then and now

What each of Nelson's major and Players wins paid, its value in 2026 dollars, and what the same title pays now.

Larry Nelson's 4 wins in the majors and The Players paid $336K in total. In 2026 dollars, that is about $1.1M.

His first, the 1981 Greater Greensboro Open, paid $54,000. His biggest check was $150,000, at the 1987 PGA Championship.

Winning the same events today would pay $13.4M. That is 12 times as much, even after inflation.

Year	Tournament	Paid	In 2026 dollars	Winner's share now
1981	Greater Greensboro Open	$54,000	$197,318	$1,530,000 (2026)
1981	PGA Championship	$60,000	$219,242	$3,690,000 (2026)
1983	U.S. Open	$72,000	$240,175	$4,500,000 (2026)
1987	PGA Championship	$150,000	$438,604	$3,690,000 (2026)

Larry Nelson earnings FAQ

How much did Larry Nelson earn in his career?

Larry Nelson earned $3,532,633 in official PGA Tour prize money in the 20 seasons with published figures. His full career total is not known.

What would Larry Nelson's earnings be worth today?

About $10,551,843 in 2026 dollars, adjusting each season's $3,532,633 total for inflation with the consumer price index.

How many majors did Larry Nelson win?

3: 1981 PGA Championship, 1983 U.S. Open, 1987 PGA Championship.

What was Larry Nelson's best money-list finish?

No. 2.