| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 6–9, 1987 |
| Location | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| Course(s) | PGA National Golf Club Champion Course |
| Organized by | PGA of America |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,002 yards (6,403 m) |
| Field | 150 players, 74 after cut[1] |
| Cut | 151 (+7) |
| Prize fund | $900,000 |
| Winner's share | $150,000 |
| Champion | |
 Larry Nelson | |
| 287 (−1), playoff | |
The 1987 PGA Championship was the 69th PGA Championship, held August 6–9 at the Champion Course of PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. In hot and windy conditions, Larry Nelson won his second PGA Championship in a sudden-death playoff over 1977 champion Lanny Wadkins.[2][3][4] It was Nelson's third and final major title.
D.A. Weibring, a 54-hole co-leader,[5] shot 76 (+4) and finished a stroke back at even-par 288. The other co-leader, Mark McCumber, posted 77 and finished in a tie for fifth. Two major champions in contention shot high scores and fell back: Seve Ballesteros (78) and Raymond Floyd (80).
In the August heat of Florida, the attendance was low.[4][6] A record high temperature for the day of 97 °F (36 °C) was recorded on Sunday.[7] It was the second major played in Florida, following the PGA Championship in 1971, played in February at the old PGA National. Through 2021, this is the last major played in the state. The purse was the last under $1 million at the PGA Championship.
With the win, Nelson gained an automatic bid to the Ryder Cup team in 1987, his third, bumping Don Pooley.[8] Nelson's record in that competition in late September was 0–3–1, as the U.S. lost the Cup for the first time on home soil. He lost all three pairs matches and halved his singles match.
The Champion Course hosted the Ryder Cup in 1983 and the Senior PGA Championship for 19 years (1982–2000). Since 2007, it has been the venue of The Honda Classic on the PGA Tour, played in March.
- ^ "Tournament Info for: 1987 PGA Championship". PGA.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
- ^ "Wadkins' poor putt gives Nelson victory". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. August 10, 1987. p. 1-part 2.
- ^ Boswell, Thomas (August 10, 1987). "Nelson beats heat, pressure, Wadkins". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (Washington Post). p. 1B.
- ^ a b Diaz, Jaime (August 17, 1987). "Cool customer in a hot PGA". Sports Illustrated. p. 28.
- ^ Boswell, Thomas (August 9, 1987). "McCumber, Weibring tied for PGA lead". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (Washington Post). p. 1C.
- ^ Boswell, Thomas (August 9, 1987). "The heat isn't as bad as PGA's profit motive". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. (Washington Post). p. 7C.
- ^ Hackenberg, Dave (August 10, 1987). "Steady Nelson survives". Toledo Blade. Ohio. p. 24.
- ^ "Nelson joins U.S. Ryder Cup team". Toledo Blade. Ohio. August 10, 1987. p. 26.