1981 U.S. Open (golf)

1981 U.S. Open
Tournament information
DatesJune 18–21, 1981
LocationArdmore, Pennsylvania
Course(s)Merion Golf Club
East Course
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par70
Length6,544 yards (5,984 m)[1]
Field156 players, 70 after cut
Cut147 (+7)
Prize fund$361,730
Winner's share$55,000
Champion
David Graham
273 (−7)
Merion GC
Location in the United States

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 first African-American since 1896 to lead the U.S. Open.[4] Burns took a one-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 nearly 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. Fifteen 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.

Course layout

See also: Merion Golf Club

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

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, June 18, 1981

Place Player 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 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), Cooksey (+6), 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 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 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

Hole  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Par 4 5 3 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4 4 4 3 4
Graham −5 −6 −6 −6 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −6 −7 −7 −7 −7
Burns −7 −7 −7 −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −6 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −5 −4 −5 −4
Rogers −3 −3 −3 −3 −3 −2 −2 −3 −4 −3 −3 −4 −4 −4 −4 −3 −3 −4

Cumulative playoff scores, relative to par

Birdie Bogey

Source:[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Graham conquers Open crew". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. June 22, 1981. p. 17.
  2. ^ Jenkins, Dan (June 29, 1981). "Graham didn't crack". Sports Illustrated. p. 18. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013.
  3. ^ Parascenzo, Marino (June 22, 1981). "Graham wins Open with 7-under". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 21.
  4. ^ Lieber, Jill (June 19, 1981). "Thorpe makes his name known with 66 in Open". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1-part 2.
  5. ^ Shedloski, Dave (May 14, 2013). "Looking Back...1981 U.S. Open at Merion". United States Golf Association. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "Stat Sheet, Golf: U.S. Open yards and par". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. June 18, 1981. p. 28.
  7. ^ "Scoreboard: U.S. Open leader cards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 22, 1981. p. 26.

40°00′04″N 75°18′43″W / 40.001°N 75.312°W / 40.001; -75.312

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