1981 U.S. Women's Open

1981 U.S. Women's Open
Tournament information
DatesJuly 23–26, 1981
LocationLaGrange, Illinois
Course(s)La Grange Country Club
Organized byUSGA
Tour(s)LPGA Tour
Statistics
Par72
Length6,204 yards (5,673 m)[1][2]
Field150 players, 70 after cut
Cut153 (+9)
Prize fund$150,000
Winner's share$22,000
Champion
United States Pat Bradley
279 (−9)
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La Grange  is located in the United States
La Grange 
La Grange 
La Grange  Country Club is located in Illinois
La Grange  Country Club
La Grange 
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.

  1. ^ a b "Bradley shows she can't be overlooked". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. July 27, 1981. p. 4B.
  2. ^ a b "Bradley shoots past field". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. July 27, 1981. p. D2.
  3. ^ McDermott, Barry (August 3, 1981). "A champion and a winner". Sports Illustrated. p. 42.
  4. ^ Kausler, Don Jr. (July 27, 1981). "Bradley wins Open by 1". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1, part 2.
  5. ^ "Whitworth touchy about Open hopes". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 25, 1981. p. 3C.
  6. ^ "Whitworth alone in lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. July 26, 1981. p. 7C.
  7. ^ "Women's Open emotional". St. Petersburg Independent. (Florida). Associated Press. July 27, 1981. p. 1C.