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Year in Review

1981 in golf

Weeks

Fourteen championships in our record: seven majors (four men’s, three women’s), four amateur championships, one team cup and two women’s tour events.

1981, developed the way it was shot: on colour film, with its grain.

The year, week by week

Each dot is a championship at the week it finished. Click a dot for its front page, or a week to see it on the world.

This week

    Every championship of 1981 in our record, in full

    The majors

    4 Men’s majors

    1. Men's major

      Masters

      Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Tom Watson

      280Total
      −8To par
      2 strokesMargin

      Runner-up: Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus

      The golfer

      b. 1949-09-04, Kansas City, Missouri, USA; United States; age 31 at the win (year page); 5th major (card's count)

      Tom Watson’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    2. Men's major

      PGA Championship

      Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course), Duluth

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Larry Nelson

      273Total
      −7To par
      4 strokesMargin

      Runner-up: Fuzzy Zoeller

      The golfer

      b. 1947-09-10, Fort Payne, Alabama, USA; United States; age 33 at the win (year page); 1st major (card's count)

      Larry Nelson’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    3. Men's major

      The Open

      Royal St George's Golf Club, Sandwich

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Bill Rogers

      276Total
      −4To par
      4 strokesMargin

      Runner-up: Bernhard Langer

      The golfer

      b. 1951-09-10, Waco, Texas, USA; United States; age 29 at the win (year page); 1st major (card's count)

      Bill Rogers’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    4. Men's major

      U.S. Open

      Merion G.C., Ardmore

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      David Graham

      273Total
      −7To par
      3 strokesMargin

      Runner-up: George Burns, Bill Rogers

      The golfer

      b. 1946-05-23, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Australia; 2nd major (card's count)

      David Graham’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    3 Women’s majors

    1. Women's major

      LPGA Championship

      Jack Nicklaus Sports Center (Grizzly Course), Kings Island

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Donna Caponi

      280Total
      −8To par
      1 strokeMargin

      Runner-up: Jerilyn Britz, Pat Meyers

      The golfer

      b. 1945-01-29, Detroit, Michigan, United States; United States; age 36 at the win (year page); 4th major (card's count)

      Donna Caponi’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    2. Women's major

      Peter Jackson Classic

      Summerlea Golf & Country Club, Vaudreuil-Dorion

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Jan Stephenson

      278Total
      −10To par
      1 strokeMargin

      Runner-up: Pat Bradley, Nancy Lopez

      The golfer

      b. 1951-12-22, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Australia; age 29 at the win (year page); 1st major (card's count)

      Jan Stephenson’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    3. Women's major

      U.S. Women's Open

      La Grange C.C., La Grange

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Pat Bradley

      279Total
      −9To par
      1 strokeMargin

      Runner-up: Beth Daniel

      The golfer

      b. 1951-03-24, Westford, Massachusetts, United States; United States; age 30 at the win (year page); 2nd major (card's count)

      Pat Bradley’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    The amateurs

    2 Men’s amateur

    2. Men's amateur championship

      U.S. Amateur

      The Olympic Club (Lake Course), San Francisco

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Nathaniel Crosby

      won on 37th holeTotal

      Runner-up: Brian Lindley

      To par and margin not yet researched.

      The golfer

      b. 1961-10-29, Hillsborough, California, U.S.; United States; age 19 at the win (year page)

      Nathaniel Crosby’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    2 Women’s amateur

    1. Women's amateur championship

      The Women's Amateur

      Caernarvonshire, Conwy

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Belle Robertson

      won on 20th hole (18-hole final)Total

      Runner-up: Wilma Aitken

      To par and margin not yet researched.

      The golfer

      b. 1936-04-11, Perth, Scotland; Scotland; age 45 at the win (year page)

      Belle Robertson’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    2. Women's amateur championship

      U.S. Women's Amateur

      Waverley C.C., Portland

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Juli Inkster

      1 upFinal

      Runner-up: Lindy Goggin

      To par and margin not yet researched.

      The golfer

      b. 1960-06-24, Santa Cruz, California, United States; United States; age 21 at the win (year page)

      Juli Inkster’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    The team cups

    Our team-cup record so far: Ryder Cup.

    1 Team cups

    The women’s tour events

    Women’s championships played before they were counted as majors.

    2 Women’s tour events

    1. Women's tour event

      Colgate-Dinah Shore

      Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Nancy Lopez

      277Total
      −11To par
      2 strokesMargin

      Runner-up: Carolyn Hill

      The golfer

      b. 1957, Torrance, California, United States; United States; age 24 at the win (year page)

      Nancy Lopez’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    2. Women's tour event

      Pretty Polly Women's British Open

      Northumberland Golf Club, Newcastle upon Tyne (Gosforth Park)

      2 of 5 researched

      Winner

      Debbie Massey

      295Total
      −1To par
      4 strokesMargin

      Runner-up: Belle Robertson

      The golfer

      b. 1950-11-05, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S.; United States

      Debbie Massey’s player card · Source

      Top 10

      Not yet researched

      What’s in the bag

      No bag on file yet

      From the papers

      No clipping yet

    Year in Review

    1981 in golf: the year in review

    Fourteen championships in our record: seven majors (four men’s, three women’s), four amateur championships, one team cup and two women’s tour events.

    To be written The synopsis of 1981: 150 to 250 words on the season’s story, its turning points and why it mattered, written from sourced research.

    The men’s majors

    • Masters: Tom Watson, Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
    • PGA Championship: Larry Nelson, Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course), Duluth
    • The Open: Bill Rogers, Royal St George's Golf Club, Sandwich
    • U.S. Open: David Graham, Merion G.C., Ardmore

    To be written How each was won: the leader after 54 holes, the decisive shot, the runner-up, the weather.

    The women’s majors

    • LPGA Championship: Donna Caponi, Jack Nicklaus Sports Center (Grizzly Course), Kings Island
    • Peter Jackson Classic: Jan Stephenson, Summerlea Golf & Country Club, Vaudreuil-Dorion
    • U.S. Women's Open: Pat Bradley, La Grange C.C., La Grange

    To be written How each was won, and where the women’s game stood in 1981.

    The amateur championships

    • The Amateur: Philippe Ploujoux, St Andrews, St Andrews
    • The Women's Amateur: Belle Robertson, Caernarvonshire, Conwy
    • U.S. Amateur: Nathaniel Crosby, The Olympic Club (Lake Course), San Francisco
    • U.S. Women's Amateur: Juli Inkster, Waverley C.C., Portland

    To be written The amateur season: champions, finals, and who went on to turn professional.

    Team golf

    • Ryder Cup: USA, Walton Heath Golf Club, Walton Heath

    To be written The match: the captains, the score, the deciding points.

    Women’s tour events

    • Colgate-Dinah Shore: Nancy Lopez, Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage
    • Pretty Polly Women's British Open: Debbie Massey, Northumberland Golf Club, Newcastle upon Tyne (Gosforth Park)

    To be written The women’s tour season around these events.

    Around the tours

    13 tour events are laid out week by week for 1981.

    To be written Money lists, players of the year, rookies and the shape of each tour’s season, from the tours’ own records.

    Players of the year

    To be written Who defined 1981: their wins, their near misses, and what the year meant for their career.

    Firsts, records and farewells

    To be written First-time major winners, scoring records, youngest and oldest champions, last appearances, events played for the first or last time.

    The game in 1981

    To be written Equipment, rules and course changes, prize money, television and the business of golf that year.

    Questions about 1981 in golf

    Who won the 1981 Colgate-Dinah Shore?
    Nancy Lopez won the 1981 Colgate-Dinah Shore at Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage.
    Who won the 1981 LPGA Championship?
    Donna Caponi won the 1981 LPGA Championship at Jack Nicklaus Sports Center (Grizzly Course), Kings Island.
    Who won the 1981 Masters?
    Tom Watson won the 1981 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia.
    Who won the 1981 PGA Championship?
    Larry Nelson won the 1981 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course), Duluth.
    Who won the 1981 Peter Jackson Classic?
    Jan Stephenson won the 1981 Peter Jackson Classic at Summerlea Golf & Country Club, Vaudreuil-Dorion.
    Who won the 1981 Pretty Polly Women's British Open?
    Debbie Massey won the 1981 Pretty Polly Women's British Open at Northumberland Golf Club, Newcastle upon Tyne (Gosforth Park).
    Who won the 1981 Ryder Cup?
    USA won the 1981 Ryder Cup at Walton Heath Golf Club, Walton Heath.
    Who won the 1981 Amateur?
    Philippe Ploujoux won the 1981 Amateur at St Andrews, St Andrews.
    Who won the 1981 Open?
    Bill Rogers won the 1981 Open at Royal St George's Golf Club, Sandwich.
    Who won the 1981 Women's Amateur?
    Belle Robertson won the 1981 Women's Amateur at Caernarvonshire, Conwy.
    Who won the 1981 U.S. Amateur?
    Nathaniel Crosby won the 1981 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club (Lake Course), San Francisco.
    Who won the 1981 U.S. Open?
    David Graham won the 1981 U.S. Open at Merion G.C., Ardmore.
    Who won the 1981 U.S. Women's Amateur?
    Juli Inkster won the 1981 U.S. Women's Amateur at Waverley C.C., Portland.
    Who won the 1981 U.S. Women's Open?
    Pat Bradley won the 1981 U.S. Women's Open at La Grange C.C., La Grange.
    How many majors were played in 1981?
    Seven in our record: four men’s and three women’s.

    Every count above is from Golf Network News’s record; the parts marked “To be written” are filled only from sourced research.

    How this page works

    Every championship here comes from Golf Network News's own record: the rooms for the majors, the women's majors, the amateur championships and the team cups. A part that says it is not yet researched is exactly that. We fill it from sourced material, never with a guess.

    The picture at the top is drawn in code for each year. It is printed the way golf was printed that year: wood engravings before 1900, newsprint halftones to 1945, hand-tinted plates to 1969, colour film to 1999, and digital light since. The names engraved in the numerals are that year's champions.

    Every view has its own address: the year, the tours, the event and a traced champion are kept in the link, so you can share exactly what you see.