The 1971 PGA Championship was the 53rd PGA Championship, played February 25–28 at the original PGA National Golf Club, presently known as BallenIsles Country Club (East Course) in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Jack Nicklaus won the second of his five PGA Championships, two strokes ahead of Billy Casper, the reigning Masters champion. Nicklaus led wire-to-wire, and held a four-stroke lead over Gary Player after 54 holes, with Casper seven shots back. The two were pre-tournament favorites, along with Arnold Palmer, who shot an opening round 75 and finished at 289 (+1), eight strokes back.
Nicklaus became the first in history to complete the modern career Grand Slam for a second time; two victories in each of the four major championships. He completed his third career grand slam at the 1978 Open Championship.
The championship was played in February rather than August, due to anticipated oppressive summer weather in Florida. The rescheduling changed the PGA Championship from the fourth and final major of the calendar year to the first in 1971, and the 1970 and 1971 editions were consecutive majors. It returned to August in 1972 at Oakland Hills in Michigan.
Round summaries
First round Thursday, February 25, 1971 PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Jack Nicklaus 69 −3T2 Bob Charles 70 −2 Bob Goalby Bobby Mitchell T5 Bradley Anderson 71 −1 Deane Beman Julius Boros Billy Casper Bruce Devlin Larry Hinson Johnny Miller Gary Player Sam Snead Lee Trevino Bert Yancey Source:
Second round Friday, February 26, 1971 PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Jack Nicklaus 69-69=138 −62 Miller Barber 72-68=140 −43 Gibby Gilbert 74-67=141 −3 T4 Gene Borek 72-70=142 −2 Bruce Devlin 71-71=142 Lionel Hebert 72-70=142 Bob Lunn 72-70=142 Bob Murphy 74-68=142 Tom Weiskopf 72-70=142 Larry Ziegler 74-68=142 Source:
Third round Saturday, February 27, 1971 PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Jack Nicklaus 69-69-70=208 −82 Gary Player 71-73-68=212 −43 Gibby Gilbert 74-67-72=213 −3 T4 Miller Barber 72-68-75=215 −1 Tommy Bolt 72-74-69=215 Gene Borek 72-70-73=215 Billy Casper 71-73-71=215 Bob Charles 70-75-70=215 Bob Lunn 72-70-73=215 Bert Yancey 71-74-70=215 Source:
Final leaderboard Sunday, February 28, 1971 PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)1 Jack Nicklaus 69-69-70-73=281 −7 40,0002 Billy Casper 71-73-71-68=283 −5 22,8003 Tommy Bolt 72-74-69-69=284 −4 14,200T4 Miller Barber 72-68-75-70=285 −3 8,800 Gary Player 71-73-68-73=285T6 Gibby Gilbert 74-67-72-73=286 −2 6,500 Dave Hill 74-71-71-70=286 Jim Jamieson 72-72-72-70=286T9 Jerry Heard 73-71-72-71=287 −1 4,800 Bob Lunn 72-70-73-72=287 Fred Marti 72-71-74-70=287 Bob Rosburg 74-72-70-71=287 Source:
References
External links PGA Media Guide 2012 PGA Championship: history PGA.com – 1971 PGA Championship