| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | June 18–21, 1981 |
| Location | Ardmore, Pennsylvania |
| Course(s) | Merion Golf Club East Course |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour | 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 | |
 David Graham | |
| 273 (−7) | |
The1981 U.S. Open was the 81stU.S. Open, held June 18–21 at the East Course ofMerion Golf Club inArdmore, Pennsylvania, a suburb northwest ofPhiladelphia.David Graham won his secondmajor title and became the firstAustralian to win the U.S. Open, three strokes ahead of runners-upGeorge Burns andBill Rogers.[1][2][3]
After a first round 66,Jim Thorpe made history as the first African-American since1896 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 theBritish Open four weeks later.
This was the fourth U.S. Open played at Merion, all at its East Course. Previous editions were hosted in1934,1950, and1971. At 6,544 yards (5,984 m),[1] the same length as 1971, it was the shortest U.S. Open course since1947. 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 championJack Nicklaus, a four-time winner.
After 1981, the U.S. Open was not played at Merion until2013.
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:
Thursday, June 18, 1981
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).
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 |
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).
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]
40°00′04″N75°18′43″W / 40.001°N 75.312°W /40.001; -75.312