Sports headlines for Saturday August 8, 1981:
- Green Picks Fernando To Start All-Star Game Over Carlton
- Nelson Shoots Another 66; Hometown Favorite Has Four-Stroke Lead
Scores through round 3 of the 1981 PGA Championship
Tournament held at Atlanta Athletic Club (Duluth, GA) from August 6, 1981 to August 9, 1981 (Par 70)
| Rank | Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | To Par | Total | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Gilder | 74 | 69 | 70 | +3 | 213 | $13,146 | |
| 2 | Tommy Valentine | 73 | 70 | 71 | +4 | 214 | $6,750 | |
| 3 | Curtis Strange | 73 | 72 | 74 | +9 | 219 | $2,850 | |
| 4 | Keith Fergus | 71 | 71 | 69 | +1 | 211 | $13,146 | |
| 4 | Bruce Lietzke | 70 | 70 | 71 | +1 | 211 | $13,146 | |
| 6 | D.A. Weibring | 71 | 74 | 74 | +9 | 219 | $1,750 | |
| 7 | Ron Streck | 69 | 77 | 75 | +11 | 221 | $913 | |
| 8 | Dan Pohl | 69 | 67 | 73 | -1 | 209 | $25,000 | |
| 9 | Jack Nicklaus | 71 | 68 | 71 | Even | 210 | $13,146 | |
| 10 | Hale Irwin | 71 | 74 | 68 | +3 | 213 | $4,875 | |
| 11 | Jay Haas | 73 | 68 | 74 | +5 | 215 | $3,631 | |
| 12 | Bobby Clampett | 75 | 71 | 70 | +6 | 216 | $2,850 | |
| 12 | Peter Jacobsen | 74 | 71 | 71 | +6 | 216 | $2,850 | |
| 12 | Hubert Green | 71 | 74 | 71 | +6 | 216 | $2,850 | |
| 15 | Howard Twitty | 74 | 71 | 74 | +9 | 219 | $1,250 | |
| 15 | Calvin Peete | 74 | 71 | 74 | +9 | 219 | $1,250 | |
| 17 | Lee Elder | 75 | 71 | 74 | +10 | 220 | $913 | |
| 18 | Roger Maltbie | 69 | 78 | 76 | +13 | 223 | $783 | |
| 18 | John Fought | 74 | 71 | 78 | +13 | 223 | $783 | |
| 20 | Al Geiberger | 73 | 74 | 77 | +14 | 224 | $760 | |
| 21 | Isao Aoki | 75 | 68 | 66 | -1 | 209 | $13,146 | |
| 22 | J.C. Snead | 70 | 71 | 70 | +1 | 211 | $5,500 | |
| 23 | Tom Weiskopf | 71 | 72 | 72 | +5 | 215 | $2,850 | |
| 24 | Seve Ballesteros | 71 | 73 | 72 | +6 | 216 | $2,250 | |
| 25 | Terry Diehl | 72 | 74 | 71 | +7 | 217 | $1,750 | |
| 26 | David Graham | 75 | 69 | 74 | +8 | 218 | $1,250 | |
| 27 | Doug Tewell | 71 | 73 | 76 | +10 | 220 | $825 | |
| 28 | Larry Nelson | 70 | 66 | 66 | -8 | 202 | $60,000 | |
| 29 | Fuzzy Zoeller | 70 | 68 | 68 | -4 | 206 | $40,000 | |
| 30 | Greg Norman | 73 | 67 | 68 | -2 | 208 | $13,146 | |
| 31 | Jerry Pate | 71 | 68 | 70 | -1 | 209 | $6,750 | |
| 32 | Don Pooley | 74 | 70 | 69 | +3 | 213 | $3,631 | |
| 32 | Tom Purtzer | 70 | 70 | 73 | +3 | 213 | $3,631 | |
| 32 | Gil Morgan | 70 | 69 | 74 | +3 | 213 | $3,631 | |
| 35 | Lanny Wadkins | 70 | 71 | 74 | +5 | 215 | $2,250 | |
| 36 | Gary Player | 75 | 72 | 71 | +8 | 218 | $913 | |
| 37 | Tom Kite | 71 | 67 | 69 | -3 | 207 | $13,146 | |
| 38 | Vance Heafner | 68 | 70 | 70 | -2 | 208 | $6,750 | |
| 39 | David Edwards | 71 | 69 | 70 | Even | 210 | $4,875 | |
| 40 | Don January | 70 | 72 | 70 | +2 | 212 | $3,631 | |
| 40 | Ray Floyd | 71 | 70 | 71 | +2 | 212 | $3,631 | |
| 42 | Bill Rogers | 72 | 75 | 66 | +3 | 213 | $2,850 | |
| 43 | Greg Powers | 70 | 70 | 74 | +4 | 214 | $2,250 | |
| 44 | Jim Thorpe | 71 | 72 | 72 | +5 | 215 | $1,750 | |
| 45 | Rod Curl | 75 | 72 | 69 | +6 | 216 | $1,250 | |
| 46 | Jack Renner | 74 | 70 | 73 | +7 | 217 | $913 | |
| 47 | Tom Jenkins | 73 | 73 | 73 | +9 | 219 | $810 | |
| 48 | Andy North | 68 | 69 | 70 | -3 | 207 | $6,750 | |
| 49 | Joe Inman | 73 | 71 | 67 | +1 | 211 | $3,631 | |
| 49 | John N. Cook | 72 | 69 | 70 | +1 | 211 | $3,631 | |
| 51 | Ed Fiori | 73 | 73 | 67 | +3 | 213 | $2,250 | |
| 52 | Lon Hinkle | 69 | 76 | 69 | +4 | 214 | $1,750 | |
| 53 | Dave Stockton | 70 | 75 | 70 | +5 | 215 | $1,250 | |
| 54 | Jim Colbert | 72 | 75 | 71 | +8 | 218 | $810 | |
| 55 | Mark Hayes | 70 | 74 | 68 | +2 | 212 | $2,250 | |
| 56 | Mark McCumber | 70 | 74 | 73 | +7 | 217 | $810 | |
| 56 | Mark Lye | 67 | 76 | 74 | +7 | 217 | $810 | |
| 58 | Leonard Thompson | 75 | 72 | 71 | +8 | 218 | $783 | |
| 58 | Don Padgett | 74 | 71 | 73 | +8 | 218 | $783 | |
| 60 | Bobby Wadkins | 73 | 74 | 72 | +9 | 219 | $760 | |
| 61 | Bob Murphy | 66 | 69 | 73 | -2 | 208 | $4,500 | |
| 62 | Bruce Fleisher | 73 | 72 | 68 | +3 | 213 | $1,250 | |
| 63 | Wayne Levi | 70 | 71 | 73 | +4 | 214 | $913 | |
| 64 | Mike Sullivan | 70 | 72 | 74 | +6 | 216 | $810 | |
| 65 | George Burns | 74 | 71 | 74 | +9 | 219 | $750 | |
| 66 | George Cadle | 74 | 72 | 74 | +10 | 220 | $750 | |
| 67 | Charles Coody | 69 | 74 | 78 | +11 | 221 | $750 | |
| 68 | Ed Sneed | 71 | 75 | 72 | +8 | 218 | $750 | |
| 69 | John Jackson | 75 | 70 | 76 | +11 | 221 | $750 | |
| 70 | Mark O'Meara | 72 | 71 | 74 | +7 | 217 | $750 | |
| 71 | Arnold Palmer | 74 | 73 | 74 | +11 | 221 | $750 | |
| 72 | Bob Eastwood | 67 | 69 | 72 | -2 | 208 | $2,250 | |
| 73 | Rex Caldwell | 68 | 72 | 71 | +1 | 211 | $913 | |
| 74 | Danny Edwards | 73 | 71 | 70 | +4 | 214 | $783 | |
| 74 | Mike Morley | 72 | 71 | 71 | +4 | 214 | $783 | |
| 76 | Barry Jaeckel | 72 | 74 | 69 | +5 | 215 | $760 | |
| 77 | Bruce Summerhays | 73 | 74 | 75 | +12 | 222 | $750 | |
| 77 | David Glenz | 72 | 73 | 77 | +12 | 222 | $750 |


