1981 PGA Championship

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox individual golf tournament

| name = 1981 PGA Championship

| image =

| dates = August 6–9, 1981

| location = Duluth, Georgia

| course = Atlanta Athletic Club,
Highlands Course

| org = PGA of America

| tour = PGA Tour

| par = 70

| yardage = {{convert|7070|yd|0}}

| field = 147 players, 78 after cut{{cite web|url=http://www.databasegolf.com/tourneys/tournament_byyear.htm?yr=1981&tid=22 |publisher=databasegolf.com |title=1981 PGA Championship |accessdate= August 21, 2013}}

| cut = 147 (+7){{cite web|url=http://www.pgamediaguide.com/pgachampionship_detail.cfm?tournament_id=407&date=1981&tourn_name_id=2|publisher=PGA.com|title=Tournament Info for: 1981 PGA Championship|accessdate=July 25, 2012|archive-date=August 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801183024/http://www.pgamediaguide.com/pgachampionship_detail.cfm?tournament_id=407&date=1981&tourn_name_id=2|url-status=dead}}

| purse = $401,050

| winners_share = $60,000

| champion = {{flagicon|USA}} Larry Nelson

| score = 273 (−7)

| previous = 1980

| next = 1982

| map = USA#USA Georgia

| map_relief = yes

| map_label = Atlanta Athletic Club

| map_caption = Location in the United States##Location in Georgia

| coordinates = {{coord|34.004|-84.193|type:event_region:US-GA|display=inline,title}}

}}

The 1981 PGA Championship was the 63rd PGA Championship, held August 6–9 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth, Georgia, a suburb northeast of Atlanta. Larry Nelson won the first of his three major titles, four strokes ahead of runner-up Fuzzy Zoeller.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NBVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4059%2C2657920|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|agency=(Washington Post)|last=Kindred |first=Dave |title=Nelson tears up 'choke' label and PGA |date=August 9, 1981 |page=1C }}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1981/08/17/825855/a-drive-down-easy-street-local-favorite-larry-nelson-commuted-to-his-victory-in-the-pga-championship|magazine=Sports Illustrated|last=Jenkins|first=Dan|authorlink=Dan Jenkins|title=A drive down easy street |date=August 17, 1981 |page=48 }}

Lee Trevino, 1974 champion, did not sign his scorecard after an opening round 74 and was disqualified after turning himself in.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MRVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6501%2C1832315|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|agency=wire services |title=Golf's honest men |date=August 7, 1981 |page=2D}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Nt4NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_G0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5318%2C969093|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Parascenzo |first=Marino |title=Trevino disqualified, Murphy leads PGA |date=August 7, 1981 |page=11}} Bob Murphy led after each of the first two rounds,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N94NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_G0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5401%2C1096159 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=Parascenzo |first=Marino |title=Murphy grabs slim PGA lead |date=August 8, 1981 |page=9}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MhVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6088%2C1913800 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Murphy's fat, happy, and leading |date=August 8, 1981 |page=1B}} but was 8-over on the weekend and finished ten strokes back in 18th place. After a second consecutive 66 on Saturday, Nelson held the 54-hole lead, four strokes ahead of Zoeller{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MxVWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VeIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6088%2C2329220 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon|agency=UPI |title=Nelson's 66 captures PGA lead |date=August 9, 1981 |page=1B}}

Tom Watson was the PGA Tour money list leader in August 1981, but missed the cut by a stroke.

It was the second major held at the Highlands Course, which hosted the U.S. Open in 1976. The PGA Championship returned in 2001 and 2011.