PGA Tour Money List Leaders Through The Years
Some legendary names have topped the PGA Tour money list through the years, but the achievement hasn’t always proved as lucrative as today
Following the emergence of LIV Golf in 2022, the prize money on the PGA Tour has risen dramatically in an effort to compete with its cash-rich rival, but a look back over the PGA Tour money list leaders through the years shows us that it is far from the norm.
Not even taking into account Scottie Scheffler’s $25m bonus prize for his 2024 FedEx Cup win at the Tour Championship, the American has far exceeded the previous record of money earned through the year, with winnings of $29,228,357.
That surpassed the $21,014,342 he earned in 2023 (which, incidentally, also beat another of his records, the $14,046,910 he won in 2022).
However, the early days of the money list tell a different story. The first money list was drawn up for the 1934 season, and two-time PGA Champion Paul Runyan topped it with total PGA Tour earnings of an altogether more modest $6,767.
Of course, given that was 90 years ago, inflation rates over time have meant that the sum would be worth considerably more now. However, when adjusted for inflation, the figure still only amounts to around $158,842 - the kind of earnings one of today’s players could expect to bank from finishing around halfway down the leaderboard of a signature event.
No one even reached five figures in earnings on the PGA Tour over a single season until 1937. Back then, Harry Cooper was around as dominant as Scheffler has been in 2024, with seven wins, but he still only banked $14,138 for his efforts. That’s around $309,000 in today’s money - still nowhere near the generational wealth that the top players routinely earn over a season nowadays.
Legendary figures of the game followed in the years immediately afterwards, including seven-time Major winner Sam Snead, who topped the list in 1938 with earnings of $19,534, and Ben Hogan, who finished top five times between 1940 and 1948. In Hogan’s case, the most lucrative of those years came in 1946, when he won $42,556 (around $686,000 today).
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
It wasn’t until Arnold Palmer topped the money list for the fourth time in 1963 that the amount breached six figures. He earned $128,230 that year (around $1.3m nowadays).
Following that, Jack Nicklaus finished top eight times over the next 12 years before Tom Watson led the way four years in a row between 1977 and 1980, but it wasn’t until eight years later that Curtis Strange finally became the first million-dollar earner in a single season on the PGA Tour.
In 1998, he won $1,147,644, which equates to around $3m today - not too far shy of the $3.6m typically handed to the winner of a single signature event nowadays.
Within a decade, the Tiger Woods era was up and running and, not surprisingly, his profile helped more money pour into the game. Equally unsurprising was the fact that he (along with another formidable talent of the era, Vijay Singh) was the main beneficiary.
Woods first topped the money list in 1997, when he earned $2,066,833 (about $4m today). A decade later, he managed it for the eighth time (out of a record 10), with earnings of $10,867,052, which would be around $16.5m nowadays. Singh, incidentally, beat that figure in 2004, earning $10,905,166 (worth over $18m today).
Along with Woods and Singh, only Jordan Spieth in 2015 (who won $12,030,465 after a season featuring five victories, including two Majors) and Scheffler have earned topped the money list with earnings of $10m or above in a single season.
Below is the full list of PGA Tour money list leaders through the years.
PGA Tour Money List Leaders 1934-2024
Year | Player | Money |
---|---|---|
1934 | Paul Runyan | $6,767 |
1935 | Johnny Revolta | $9,543 |
1936 | Horton Smith | $7,682 |
1937 | Harry Cooper | $14,138 |
1938 | Sam Snead | $19,534 |
1939 | Henry Picard | $10,303 |
1940 | Ben Hogan | $10,655 |
1941 | Ben Hogan | $18,358 |
1942 | Ben Hogan | $13,143 |
1944 | Byron Nelson | $37,967 |
1945 | Byron Nelson | $63,335 |
1946 | Ben Hogan | $42,556 |
1947 | Jimmy Demaret | $27,936 |
1948 | Ben Hogan | $32,112 |
1949 | Sam Snead | $31,593 |
1950 | Sam Snead | $35,758 |
1951 | Lloyd Mangrum | $26,088 |
1952 | Julius Boros | $37,032 |
1953 | Lew Worsham | $34,002 |
1954 | Bob Toski | $65,819 |
1955 | Julius Boros | $63,121 |
1956 | Ted Kroll | $72,835 |
1957 | Dick Mayer | $65,835 |
1958 | Arnold Palmer | $42,607 |
1959 | Art Wall | $53,167 |
1960 | Arnold Palmer | $75,263 |
1961 | Gary Player | $64,540 |
1962 | Arnold Palmer | $81,448 |
1963 | Arnold Palmer | $128,230 |
1964 | Jack Nicklaus | $113,284 |
1965 | Jack Nicklaus | $140,752 |
1966 | Billy Casper | $121,944 |
1967 | Jack Nicklaus | $188,998 |
1968 | Billy Casper | $205,168 |
1969 | Frank Beard | $164,707 |
1970 | Lee Trevino | $157,037 |
1971 | Jack Nicklaus | $244,490 |
1972 | Jack Nicklaus | $320,542 |
1973 | Jack Nicklaus | $308,362 |
1974 | Johnny Miller | $353,021 |
1975 | Jack Nicklaus | $298,149 |
1976 | Jack Nicklaus | $266,438 |
1977 | Tom Watson | $310,653 |
1978 | Tom Watson | $362,428 |
1979 | Tom Watson | $462,636 |
1980 | Tom Watson | $530,808 |
1981 | Tom Kite | $375,699 |
1982 | Craig Stadler | $446,462 |
1983 | Hal Sutton | $426,668 |
1984 | Tom Watson | $476,260 |
1985 | Curtis Strange | $542,321 |
1986 | Greg Norman | $653,296 |
1987 | Curtis Strange | $925,941 |
1988 | Curtis Strange | $1,147,644 |
1989 | Tom Kite | $1,395,278 |
1990 | Greg Norman | $1,165,477 |
1991 | Corey Pavin | $979,430 |
1992 | Fred Couples | $1,344,188 |
1993 | Nick Price | $1,478,557 |
1994 | Nick Price | $1,499,927 |
1995 | Greg Norman | $1,654,959 |
1996 | Tom Lehman | $1,780,159 |
1997 | Tiger Woods | $2,066,833 |
1998 | David Duval | $2,591,031 |
1999 | Tiger Woods | $6,616,585 |
2000 | Tiger Woods | $9,188,321 |
2001 | Tiger Woods | $5,687,777 |
2002 | Tiger Woods | $6,912,625 |
2003 | Vijay Singh | $7,573,907 |
2004 | Vijay Singh | $10,905,166 |
2005 | Tiger Woods | $10,628,024 |
2006 | Tiger Woods | $9,941,563 |
2007 | Tiger Woods | $10,867,052 |
2008 | Vijay Singh | $6,601,094 |
2009 | Tiger Woods | $10,508,163 |
2010 | Matt Kuchar | $4,910,477 |
2011 | Luke Donald | $6,683,214 |
2012 | Rory McIlroy | $8,047,952 |
2013 | Tiger Woods | $8,553,439 |
2014 | Rory McIlroy | $8,280,096 |
2015 | Jordan Spieth | $12,030,465 |
2016 | Dustin Johnson | $9,365,185 |
2017 | Justin Thomas | $9,921,560 |
2018 | Justin Thomas | $8,694,821 |
2019 | Brooks Koepka | $9,684,006 |
2020 | Justin Thomas | $7,344,040 |
2021 | Jon Rahm | $7,705,933 |
2022 | Scottie Scheffler | $14,046,910 |
2023 | Scottie Scheffler | $21,014,342 |
2024 | Scottie Scheffler | $29,228,357 |
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Solheim Cup Tee Times For Sunday Singles And Matches
Can Team Europe produce an historic comeback? Going into the final day of the Solheim Cup they will need to claim eight points from 12 to retain their trophy
By Matt Cradock Published
-
'We're Almost Done' - Stacy Lewis Reacts As USA Move Closer To Solheim Cup Glory
Leading 10-6 going into Sunday, the Americans are just 4.5 points away from claiming the Solheim Cup, with captain, Lewis, focused on getting the job done
By Matt Cradock Published
-
What's The Most Money Earned In A Single PGA Tour Season?
Scottie Scheffler's 2023 and 2024 seasons are the most lucrative in PGA Tour history with a combined $50m won in official prize money
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Which Golfers Have The Most Top-10s In PGA Tour History?
Top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour are something to be savored, but a handful of players have achieved more than most
By Mike Hall Published
-
Every Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year Winner Since 1990
Five winners of the Korn Ferry Tour Player of the Year award have gone on to win Majors
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Every PGA Tour Rookie Of The Year Since 1990
The PGA Tour Rookie of the Year title, known as the Arnold Palmer Award, has been won by a number of the game's modern day greats since its inception in 1990
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Every PGA Tour Player Of The Year Winner Since 1990
The PGA Tour Player of the Year title, known as the Jack Nicklaus Award, has been handed out since 1990
By Elliott Heath Published
-
Who Is Jhonattan Vegas’ Caddie? Meet Ruben Yorio
Argentinian looper Ruben Yorio has caddied for Jhonattan Vegas for several years - here is what we know about him
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Who Is Brendon Todd’s Caddie? Meet JT Griffin
Brendon Todd's caddie is his good friend and fellow golf pro JT Griffin - here is what we know about him
By Joel Kulasingham Published
-
Who Is Mark Hubbard’s Caddie? Meet Matthew Picanso
Former professional Matthew Picanso has been caddying for Mark Hubbard in recent years - here is what we know about him
By Joel Kulasingham Published