1981 PGA Tour money list
The top 10, from the published season money list. Official prize money in 1981 dollars, with 2026 dollars in the table.
| Rank | Player | Wins | Official prize money | In 2026 dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Kite | 1 | $375,699 | $1,372,815 |
| 2 | Ray Floyd | 3 | $359,360 | $1,313,112 |
| 3 | Tom Watson | 3 | $347,660 | $1,270,360 |
| 4 | Bruce Lietzke | 3 | $343,446 | $1,254,962 |
| 5 | Bill Rogers | 4 | $315,411 | $1,152,521 |
| 6 | Jerry Pate | 2 | $280,627 | $1,025,419 |
| 7 | Hale Irwin | 2 | $276,499 | $1,010,335 |
| 8 | Craig Stadler | 1 | $218,829 | $799,607 |
| 9 | Curtis Strange | 0 | $201,513 | $736,334 |
| 10 | Larry Nelson | 2 | $193,342 | $706,477 |
The 1981 majors and The Players
1981 PGA Tour schedule and purses
Every event on the season schedule, with its winner and total purse.
| Date | Tournament | Winner | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 11 | Joe Garagiola-Tucson Open | Johnny Miller | $300,000 |
| Jan 18 | Bob Hope Desert Classic | Bruce Lietzke | $250,000 |
| Jan 25 | Phoenix Open | David Graham | $300,000 |
| Feb 2 | Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | John Cook | $225,000 |
| Feb 8 | Wickes-Andy Williams San Diego Open | Bruce Lietzke | $250,000 |
| Feb 14 | Hawaiian Open | Hale Irwin | $325,000 |
| Feb 22 | Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open | Johnny Miller | $300,000 |
| Mar 1 | Bay Hill Classic | Andy Bean | $300,000 |
| Mar 8 | American Motors Inverrary Classic | Tom Kite | $300,000 |
| Mar 15 | Doral-Eastern Open | Ray Floyd | $250,000 |
| Mar 23 | Tournament Players Championship | Ray Floyd | $400,000 |
| Mar 29 | Sea Pines Heritage | Bill Rogers | $300,000 |
| Apr 5 | Greater Greensboro Open | Larry Nelson | $300,000 |
| Apr 12 | Masters Tournament | Tom Watson | $365,000 |
| Apr 12 | Magnolia Classic | Tom Jones | $75,000 |
| Apr 19 | MONY Tournament of Champions | Lee Trevino | $300,000 |
| Apr 19 | Tallahassee Open | Dave Eichelberger | $100,000 |
| Apr 26 | USF&G New Orleans Open | Tom Watson | $350,000 |
| May 2 | Michelob-Houston Open | Ron Streck | $262,500 |
| May 10 | Byron Nelson Golf Classic | Bruce Lietzke | $300,000 |
| May 17 | Colonial National Invitation | Fuzzy Zoeller | $300,000 |
| May 24 | Memorial Tournament | Keith Fergus | $350,000 |
| May 31 | Kemper Open | Craig Stadler | $400,000 |
| Jun 7 | Atlanta Classic | Tom Watson | $300,000 |
| Jun 14 | Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic | Ray Floyd | $400,000 |
| Jun 21 | U.S. Open | David Graham | $360,000 |
| Jun 28 | Danny Thomas Memphis Classic | Jerry Pate | $300,000 |
| Jul 5 | Western Open | Ed Fiori | $300,000 |
| Jul 12 | Greater Milwaukee Open | Jay Haas | $250,000 |
| Jul 19 | The Open Championship Unofficial | Bill Rogers | £200,000 |
| Jul 19 | Quad Cities Open | Dave Barr | $200,000 |
| Jul 26 | Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic | John Mahaffey | $300,000 |
| Aug 2 | Canadian Open | Peter Oosterhuis | $425,000 |
| Aug 9 | PGA Championship | Larry Nelson | $400,000 |
| Aug 16 | Sammy Davis Jr.-Greater Hartford Open | Hubert Green | $300,000 |
| Aug 23 | Buick Open | Hale Irwin | $350,000 |
| Aug 30 | World Series of Golf | Bill Rogers | $400,000 |
| Sep 6 | B.C. Open | Jay Haas | $275,000 |
| Sep 13 | Pleasant Valley Jimmy Fund Classic | Jack Renner | $300,000 |
| Sep 20 | LaJet Classic | Tom Weiskopf | $350,000 |
| Sep 27 | Hall of Fame | Morris Hatalsky | $250,000 |
| Oct 1 | Texas Open | Bill Rogers | $250,000 |
| Oct 11 | Southern Open | J. C. Snead | $200,000 |
| Oct 18 | Pensacola Open | Jerry Pate | $200,000 |
| Oct 25 | Walt Disney World National Team Championship | Vance Heafner / Mike Holland | $400,000 |
| Sep 20 | Ryder Cup Unofficial | Not known | Not known |
| Dec 6 | JCPenney Mixed Team Classic Unofficial | Beth Daniel / Tom Kite | $550,000 |