1981 Masters: Tom Watson wins at Augusta National Golf Club

Tom Watson won the 1981 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club with 280 (−8), by 2 strokes over Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus.

Updated October 23, 2026

See 1981 in the Masters room, or every year on the Masters winners list.

Dates: April 9, 1981 to April 12, 1981
Course: Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
Edition: 45th Masters
Par: 72 · 6,905 yards
Made the cut: 48 (cut at 148)
Purse: $362,587 · winner's share $60,000
Champion: Tom Watson · age 31 · United States · born Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Champion's title: 2nd Masters title
Winning score: 71-68-70-71 = 280 (−8) · won by 2 strokes
Runners-up: Johnny Miller (282, −6), Jack Nicklaus (282, −6)
54-hole leader: Tom Watson (209, −7)
Caddie: Leon McCladdie
Low amateur: Jay Sigel (294)
Course note: Bentgrass greens replaced the bermudagrass greens (installed fall 1980); 1981 was the first Masters on bentgrass. Greens on the main course converted from Bermuda grass to bentgrass (first used for the 1981 Masters).

Winner and runners-up

Pos.	Player	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	To par
1	Tom Watson	71	68	70	71	280	−8
T2	Johnny Miller	69	72	73	68	282	−6
T2	Jack Nicklaus	70	65	75	72	282	−6

What happened at the 1981 Masters

Jack Nicklaus led after 36 holes at 135 following a second-round 65, but a third-round 75 left him one behind Watson, who won by two.

Greg Norman shared the first-round lead in his Masters debut and finished fourth.

How this was built

Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's The Masters data. A value no source confirmed is left out; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the organizer's own record is used.

Data: masters.json (the Masters room's data).

1981 Masters: Tom Watson wins at Augusta National Golf Club

Winner and runners-up

What happened at the 1981 Masters

How this was built

Sources