| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 23–26, 1981 |
| Location | LaGrange, Illinois |
| Course(s) | La Grange Country Club |
| Organized by | USGA |
| Tour(s) | LPGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 6,204 yards (5,673 m)[1][2] |
| Field | 150 players, 70 after cut |
| Cut | 153 (+9) |
| Prize fund | $150,000 |
| Winner's share | $22,000 |
| Champion | |
 Pat Bradley | |
| 279 (−9) | |
Country Club
The 1981 U.S. Women's Open was the 36th U.S. Women's Open, held July 23–26 at La Grange Country Club in LaGrange, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago.
Three strokes back after 54 holes, Pat Bradley shot a final round 66 (−6) to win her only U.S. Women's Open, one stroke ahead of runner-up Beth Daniel.[1][2][3][4] It was the second of Bradley's six major titles.
Kathy Whitworth had her best chance to win the U.S. Women's Open, the only major championship to elude her. She co-led after 18 and 36 holes,[5] and led by a stroke over Bonnie Lauer after the third round.[6] Both faded on Sunday as Whitworth carded a 74 (+2) to finish five strokes back in solo third. With that, she became the first to exceed one million dollars in career earnings on the LPGA Tour.[7]
The course hosted the championship seven years earlier in 1974.
- ^ a b "Bradley shows she can't be overlooked". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. July 27, 1981. p. 4B.
- ^ a b "Bradley shoots past field". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. July 27, 1981. p. D2.
- ^ McDermott, Barry (August 3, 1981). "A champion and a winner". Sports Illustrated. p. 42.
- ^ Kausler, Don Jr. (July 27, 1981). "Bradley wins Open by 1". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
- ^ "Whitworth touchy about Open hopes". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 25, 1981. p. 3C.
- ^ "Whitworth alone in lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 26, 1981. p. 7C.
- ^ "Women's Open emotional". St. Petersburg Independent. (Florida). Associated Press. July 27, 1981. p. 1C.