1971 PGA Championship
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.
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 25–28, 1971 |
| Location | Palm Beach Gardens, Florida |
| Course(s) | PGA National Golf Club, (now BallenIsles Country Club, East Course) |
| Organized by | PGA of America |
| Tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Statistics | |
| Par | 72 |
| Length | 7,096 yards (6,489 m) |
| Field | 144 players, 81 after cut |
| Cut | 149 (+5) |
| Prize fund | $202,440 |
| Winner's share | $40,000 |
| Champion | |
| Jack Nicklaus | |
| 281 (−7) | |
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.