Golf Masters Tournament Final - 1981

Hi!

Here is some info about the match.

The 1981 Masters, played April 9–12, was won by Tom Watson, who shot a final-round 71 (−1) to finish at 280 (−8), two strokes ahead of Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller. This was Watson’s second Masters victory (the first was in 1977) and his fifth major overall. Watson entered the final round tied with Miller at −7, and it turned into a tense battle on Sunday.

The 1981 Masters Tournament was the 45th Masters Tournament, held April 9–12 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

Tom Watson won his second green jacket and fifth major title by two strokes over Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller.Five-time champion Nicklaus shot a bogey-free 65 on Friday and led by four strokes after 36 holes, but a 75 on Saturday put him a stroke behind Watson entering the final round.

It was the fourth runner-up finish for Nicklaus at the Masters and the third for Miller.[3][4][5] Nicklaus won his sixth Masters five years later in 1986 at age 46.

Defending champion Seve Ballesteros shot 154 (+10) and missed the cut by six strokes; he also missed the cut as defending champion in 1984. Lee Trevino, needing a green jacket to complete the career grand slam, also shot 154 with an ailing back.

His best finishes at Augusta were tenth place ties in 1975 and 1985.Greg Norman, age 26, appeared in his first Masters and was fourth, the first of his eight top-five finishes at Augusta. He was runner-up three times, in 1986, 1987, and 1996.This was the first Masters with bentgrass greens, which were formerly Bermuda and ryegrass.

Key Highlights:

• Tom Watson’s steely nerves:

  • Made crucial birdies on the back nine, including at the par-5 13th after reaching the green in two.

  • Saved a huge par on the 17th after missing the green, maintaining his slim lead.

• Jack Nicklaus’s charge:

  • Shot a final-round 65 on Saturday to vault into contention, then posted a solid 70 on Sunday, but couldn’t quite catch Watson.

  • His birdie attempt on 18 to apply pressure narrowly missed.

• Johnny Miller’s up and down day:

  • Shared the 54-hole lead but struggled with a few bogeys on the back nine, finishing with a 72.

  • Still tied Nicklaus for second.

• Seve Ballesteros & Gary Player:

  • Seve, the defending champion, never seriously challenged, finishing T-7.

  • Gary Player closed with a 67 to climb into the top ten.

• Watson’s winning moment:

  • A steady two-putt par on 18 sealed the victory, greeted by huge roars from the patrons around the green.