1981 PGA Championship

The 1981 PGA Championship was the 63rd PGA Championship, held August 6–9 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Georgia, a suburb northeast of Atlanta. Larry Nelson won the first of his three major titles, four strokes ahead of runner-up Fuzzy Zoeller.[3][4]

1981 PGA Championship
Tournament information
DatesAugust 6–9, 1981
LocationDuluth, Georgia
34.004°N 84.193°W / 34.004; -84.193
Course(s)Atlanta Athletic Club,
Highlands Course
Organized byPGA of America
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par70
Length7,070 yards (6,465 m)
Field147 players, 78 after cut[1]
Cut147 (+7)[2]
Prize fund$401,050
Winner's share$60,000
Champion
United States Larry Nelson
273 (−7)
Location Map
Atlanta Athletic Club is located in the United States
Atlanta Athletic Club
Atlanta Athletic Club
Location in the United States
Atlanta Athletic Club is located in Georgia
Atlanta Athletic Club
Atlanta Athletic Club
Location in Georgia

Lee Trevino, 1974 champion, did not sign his scorecard after an opening round 74 and was disqualified after turning himself in.[5][6] Bob Murphy led after each of the first two rounds,[7][8] but was 8-over on the weekend and finished ten strokes back in 18th place.[3] After a second consecutive 66 on Saturday, Nelson held the 54-hole lead, four strokes ahead of Zoeller[9]

Tom Watson was the PGA Tour money list leader in August 1981, but missed the cut by a stroke.[8]

It was the second major held at the Highlands Course, which hosted the U.S. Open in 1976. The PGA Championship returned in 2001 and 2011.

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, August 6, 1981

PlacePlayerScoreTo par
1United States Bob Murphy66−4
T2United States Bob Eastwood67−3
United States Mark Lye
T4United States Rex Caldwell68−2
United States Vance Heafner
United States Andy North
T7United States Charles Coody69−1
United States Lon Hinkle
United States Roger Maltbie
United States Dan Pohl
United States Ron Streck

Source:[10]

Second round

Friday, August 7, 1981

PlacePlayerScoreTo par
1United States Bob Murphy66-69=135−5
T2United States Bob Eastwood67-69=136−4
United States Larry Nelson70-66=136
United States Dan Pohl69-67=136
5United States Andy North69-68=137−3
T6United States Vance Heafner68-70=138−2
United States Tom Kite71-67=138
United States Fuzzy Zoeller70-68=138
T9United States Gil Morgan70-69=139−1
United States Jack Nicklaus71-68=139
United States Jerry Pate71-68=139

Source:[11]

Third round

Saturday, August 8, 1981

PlacePlayerScoreTo par
1United States Larry Nelson70-66-66=202−8
2United States Fuzzy Zoeller70-68-68=206−4
T3United States Tom Kite71-67-69=207−3
United States Andy North69-68-70=207
T5United States Bob Eastwood67-69-72=208−2
United States Vance Heafner68-70-70=208
United States Bob Murphy66-69-73=208
Australia Greg Norman73-67-68=208
T9Japan Isao Aoki75-68-66=209−1
United States Jerry Pate71-68-70=209
United States Dan Pohl69-67-73=209

Source:[12]

Final round

Sunday, August 9, 1981

PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)
1United States Larry Nelson70-66-66-71=273−760,000
2United States Fuzzy Zoeller70-68-68-71=277−340,000
3United States Dan Pohl69-67-73-69=278−225,000
T4Japan Isao Aoki75-68-66-70=279−113,146
United States Keith Fergus71-71-69-68=279
United States Bob Gilder74-69-70-66=279
United States Tom Kite71-67-69-72=279
United States Bruce Lietzke70-70-71-68=279
United States Jack Nicklaus71-68-71-69=279
Australia Greg Norman73-67-68-71=279

Source:[1]

References

  1. "1981 PGA Championship". databasegolf.com. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  2. "Tournament Info for: 1981 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  3. Kindred, Dave (August 9, 1981). "Nelson tears up 'choke' label and PGA". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (Washington Post). p. 1C.
  4. Jenkins, Dan (August 17, 1981). "A drive down easy street". Sports Illustrated. p. 48.
  5. "Golf's honest men". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. wire services. August 7, 1981. p. 2D.
  6. Parascenzo, Marino (August 7, 1981). "Trevino disqualified, Murphy leads PGA". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 11.
  7. Parascenzo, Marino (August 8, 1981). "Murphy grabs slim PGA lead". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 9.
  8. "Murphy's fat, happy, and leading". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. August 8, 1981. p. 1B.
  9. "Nelson's 66 captures PGA lead". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. UPI. August 9, 1981. p. 1B.
  10. Kindred, Dave (August 7, 1981). "Murphy's accuracy pays off". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (Washington Post). p. 1D.
  11. "Murphy's fat, happy and leading". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. August 8, 1981. p. 1B.
  12. "Nelson's 66 captures PGA lead". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. UPI. August 9, 1981. p. 1B.
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