1981 U.S. Open (golf)
Tournament information | |
---|---|
Dates | June 18–21, 1981 |
Location | Ardmore, Pennsylvania |
Course(s) | Merion Golf Club East Course |
Organized by | USGA |
Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
Statistics | |
Par | 70 |
Length | 6,544 yards (5,984 m)[1] |
Field | 156 players, 70 after cut |
Cut | 147 (+7) |
Prize fund | $361,730 |
Winner's share | $55,000 |
Champion | |
![]() |
|
273 (–7) | |
«1980
1982»
|
The 1981 U.S. Open was the 81st U.S. Open, held June 18–21 at the East Course of Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia. David Graham won his second major title and became the first Australian to win the U.S. Open, three strokes ahead of runners-up George Burns and Bill Rogers.[1][2][3]
After a first round 66, Jim Thorpe made history as the African-American since 1896 to lead the U.S. Open.[4] Burns took a two-stroke lead over Graham with a 66 in the second round, then increased his lead to three strokes after 54 holes.
In the final round on Sunday, Graham shot one of the most precise rounds in U.S. Open history. He hit every green in regulation, missed just one fairway, and recorded four birdies, missing several other opportunities from within 10 feet (3 m). The only bogey was a three-putt at the fifth, after his approach shot stopped above the hole.[5] After a string of eight pars, Graham finally passed Burns with birdies at the 14th and 15th holes. Graham carded a 67 to Burns' 73 to win by three strokes. Rogers shot 69 to tie Burns for 2nd and won the British Open four weeks later.
This was the fourth U.S. Open played at Merion, all at its East Course. Previous editions were hosted in 1934, 1950, and 1971. At 6,544 yards (5,984 m),[1] the same length as 1971, it was the shortest U.S. Open course since 1947. With heavy rains softening the course before the tournament, 93 rounds of par 70 or better were recorded. Sixteen players were under par after 36 holes, but only five finished under par for the four rounds. Five more were at even par 280, including defending champion Jack Nicklaus, a four-time winner.
After 1981, the U.S. Open was not played at Merion until 2013.
Contents
Course layout
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East Course
Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yards | 355 | 535 | 183 | 600 | 426 | 420 | 350 | 360 | 195 | 3,424 | 312 | 370 | 405 | 129 | 414 | 378 | 430 | 224 | 458 | 3,120 | 6,544 |
Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 34 | 70 |
Source:[6]
Lengths of the course for previous U.S. Opens:
- 1971: 6,544 yards (5,984 m), par 70
- 1950: 6,694 yards (6,121 m), par 70
- 1934: 6,694 yards (6,121 m), par 70
Past champions in the field
Made the cut
Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | Total | To par | Finish |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
1962, 1967, 1972, 1980 |
69 | 68 | 71 | 72 | 280 | E | T6 |
Johnny Miller | ![]() |
1973 | 69 | 71 | 73 | 72 | 285 | +5 | T23 |
Gary Player | ![]() |
1965 | 72 | 72 | 71 | 71 | 286 | +6 | T26 |
Jerry Pate | ![]() |
1976 | 70 | 69 | 72 | 75 | 286 | +6 | T26 |
Hubert Green | ![]() |
1977 | 69 | 76 | 71 | 72 | 288 | +8 | T37 |
Andy North | ![]() |
1978 | 73 | 74 | 72 | 71 | 290 | +10 | T43 |
Hale Irwin | ![]() |
1974, 1979 | 72 | 75 | 73 | 72 | 292 | +12 | T58 |
Missed the cut
Player | Country | Year(s) won | R1 | R2 | Total | To par |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lee Trevino | ![]() |
1968, 1971 | 72 | 76 | 148 | +8 |
Lou Graham | ![]() |
1975 | 76 | 74 | 150 | +10 |
Arnold Palmer | ![]() |
1960 | 77 | 78 | 155 | +15 |
Round summaries
First round
Thursday, June 18, 1981
Place | Player | Country | Score | To par |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jim Thorpe | ![]() |
66 | –4 |
2 | J. C. Snead | ![]() |
67 | –3 |
T3 | Bob Ackerman | ![]() |
68 | –2 |
John Cook | ![]() |
|||
David Graham | ![]() |
|||
Jack Renner | ![]() |
|||
Chi-Chi Rodríguez | ![]() |
|||
T8 | George Burns | ![]() |
69 | –1 |
Rex Caldwell | ![]() |
|||
Hubert Green | ![]() |
|||
Lon Hinkle | ![]() |
|||
Billy Kratzert | ![]() |
|||
Johnny Miller | ![]() |
|||
Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
|||
Tommy Valentine | ![]() |
Second round
Friday, June 19, 1981
Place | Player | Country | Score | To par |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | George Burns | ![]() |
69-66=135 | –5 |
2 | David Graham | ![]() |
68-68=136 | –4 |
T3 | Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
69-68=137 | –3 |
Tommy Valentine | ![]() |
69-68=137 | ||
T5 | John Cook | ![]() |
68-70=138 | –2 |
Billy Kratzert | ![]() |
69-69=138 | ||
Greg Norman | ![]() |
71-67=138 | ||
Bill Rogers | ![]() |
70-68=138 | ||
T9 | Jerry Pate | ![]() |
70-69=139 | –1 |
Jack Renner | ![]() |
68-71=139 | ||
John Schroeder | ![]() |
71-68=139 | ||
Scott Simpson | ![]() |
72-67=139 | ||
Jim Thorpe | ![]() |
66-73=139 | ||
Lanny Wadkins | ![]() |
71-68=139 | ||
Tom Watson | ![]() |
70-69=139 |
Amateurs: Rassett (E), Norton (+8), Pavin (+9), DeFrancesco (+10), White (+10), Sindelar (+11), Faxon (+12), Lawrence (+14), Sanchez (+14), Moore (+15), Mudd (+15), Yokoi (+15), Biancalana (+16), Jones (+16), Ludwig (+16), Magee (+17), Hurter (+21), Brodie (+22).
Third round
Saturday, June 20, 1981
Place | Player | Country | Score | To par |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | George Burns | ![]() |
69-66-68=203 | –7 |
2 | David Graham | ![]() |
68-68-70=206 | –4 |
3 | Bill Rogers | ![]() |
70-68-69=207 | –3 |
T4 | Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
69-68-71=208 | –2 |
Chi-Chi Rodríguez | ![]() |
68-73-67=208 | ||
John Schroeder | ![]() |
71-68-69=208 | ||
T7 | John Cook | ![]() |
68-70-71=209 | –1 |
Ben Crenshaw | ![]() |
70-75-64=209 | ||
Jim Thorpe | ![]() |
66-73-70=209 | ||
Tommy Valentine | ![]() |
69-68-72=209 |
Final round
Sunday, June 21, 1981
Place | Player | Country | Score | To par | Money ($) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | David Graham | ![]() |
68-68-70-67=273 | –7 | 55,000 |
T2 | George Burns | ![]() |
69-66-68-73=276 | –4 | 24,650 |
Bill Rogers | ![]() |
70-68-69-69=276 | |||
T4 | John Cook | ![]() |
68-70-71-70=279 | –1 | 16,200 |
John Schroeder | ![]() |
71-68-69-71=279 | |||
T6 | Frank Conner | ![]() |
71-72-69-68=280 | E | 9,920 |
Lon Hinkle | ![]() |
69-71-70-70=280 | |||
Jack Nicklaus | ![]() |
69-68-71-72=280 | |||
Sammy Rachels | ![]() |
70-71-69-70=280 | |||
Chi-Chi Rodríguez | ![]() |
68-73-67-72=280 |
Amateur: Rassett (+14).
Scorecard
Final round
Source:[7]
References
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External links
- 1981 U.S. Open
- USGA Championship Database
- USOpen.com - 1981
- Trenham Golf History – 1981 U.S. Open
Preceded by | Major Championships | Succeeded by 1981 Open Championship |
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