1981 - Men Europe
The winners in the category "1981 - Men Europe" are shown in the table below, which also includes relevant information on venues, scores and prize money.
Europe
Benson & Hedges
Played as the Benson & Hedges International Open (Aug 20-23). Second-placed Eamonn Darcy (Ire) and Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 1 shot behind Weiskopf (USA), who recorded the second of his two European Tour wins. [Fulford GC, York, North Yorkshire].
Europe
Sun Alliance
Played as the Sun Alliance PGA Championship (May 22-25). Second-placed Ken Brown (Scot) finished 4 shots behind defending champion Faldo (Eng). This was Faldo's third PGA Championship title, and the third time Brown finished second to him in this event. [Ganton GC, nr Scarborough, North Yorkshire].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (May 28-31). Second-placed Graham Marsh (Aus) finished 4 shots behind Norman (Aus). [Duke's course, Woburn GC, nr Milton Keynes, Bucks].
Europe
Bob Hope
Played as the Bob Hope British Classic (Sept 24-27). Second-placed Peter Oosterhuis (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Langer (Ger). Tournament reduced to 54 holes due to bad weather. [Combination of holes from High & West courses, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
x
Played as the Cannes Invitational (not on European Tour schedule). Won by Gery Watine (Fra). [Cannes Mougins GCC, Mougins, nr Cannes, France].
Europe
KLM
Played as the KLM Dutch Open (July 23-26). Second-placed Raymond Floyd (USA) and Nick Price (Zim) finished 1 shot behind Henning (RSA), who recorded his first official European Tour win (having won many times in Europe prior to the formation of the offical Tour in 1972). [Koninklijke (Royal) Haagsche G&CC, Wassenaar, nr The Hague].
Europe
State Express
Played as the State Express English Classic (July 8-11). Second-placed Greg Norman (Aus) finished 2 shots behind 30-year-old Rodger Davis (Aus), who recorded the first of his seven European Tour wins. [Brabazon course, The Belfry, Wishaw, nr Birmingham].
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Pinero (Esp) beat Antonio Garrido (Esp) and Tony Johnstone (Zim) with a birdie at the first playoff hole. [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Europe
Dixcel Tissues
Played as the Dixcel Tissues European Open (Sept 3-6). Second-placed Seve Ballesteros (Esp) finished 2 shots behind Marsh (Aus). [Royal Liverpool GC, Hoylake, Wirral, Merseyside].
Europe
Paco Rabanne
Played as the Paco Rabanne Open de France. Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 4 shots behind Lyle (Scot). [Saint Germain GC, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, nr Paris].
Europe
x
Played as the German Open (July 30-Aug 2). Second-placed Tony Jacklin (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Langer (Ger), who recorded the first of his five German Open wins. He became the first German golfer to win this event since its inception in 1911. [Hamburg GC-Falkenstein, Blankenese, nr Hamburg].
Europe
Cold Shield
Played as the Cold Shield Greater Manchester Open (June 11-14). Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Gallacher (Scot). [Wilmslow GC, Mobberley, Knutsford, Cheshire].
Europe
x
Played as the Hassan II Trophy (unofficial limited-field event). Bob Byman (USA) finished in second place behind Eastwood (USA). [Red course, Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Rabat, Morocco].
Europe
Carroll & Co.
Played as Carroll's Irish Open. Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 5 shots behind Torrance (Scot). [Portmarnock GC, nr Dublin, Ireland].
Europe
x
Played as the Italian Open. Canizares (Esp) beat Bobby Clampett (USA) with a par at the first playoff hole. [Milano GC, Villasanta, Monza, nr Milan].
Europe
Butlins
Played as the Billy Butlin Jersey Open (June 18-21). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 1 shot behind Jacklin (Eng). [La Moye GC, St Brelade, Jersey, Channel Islands].
Europe
Johnnie Walker
Played as the Johnnie Walker Trophy (Oct 22-25; post-season limited field unofficial money event). Second-placed Manuel Piñero (Esp) finished 9 shots behind Jacobsen (USA), who recorded a final round six-under-par 66 for his first win in Europe. [No.1 course, Golf La Moraleja, Alcobendas, nr Madrid; now called Real (Royal) La Moraleja].
Europe
Lawrence Batley
Played as the inaugural Lawrence Batley International (June 4-7). Second-placed Nick Faldo (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Lyle (Scot) ... the only two players to finish the tournament under par. [Bingley St Ives GC, Bingley, W Yorks].
Europe
x
Played as the Madrid Open. Second-placed Des Smyth (Ire) finished 5 shots behind Pinero (Esp). [Real (Royal) Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Madrid].
Europe
Martini
Played as the Martini International (May 14-17). Second-placed Bernhard Langer (Ger) finished 1 shot behind Norman (Aus), who recorded his fifth European Tour win, and third win in this event in five years. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
x
Portuguese Open not played in 1981.
Europe
Scandinavian Enterprise
Played as the Scandinavian Enterprise Open (July 2-5). Second-placed Antonio Garrido (Esp) finished shots behind Ballesteros (Esp). [Linköping GC, Östergötland, Sweden].
Europe
Benson & Hedges
Played as the Benson & Hedges Spanish Open. Second-placed Steve Martin (Scot) finished 1 shot behind Ballesteros (Esp). This was the first of Ballesteros' three Spanish Open wins. [Real (Royal) GC El Prat, El Prat de Llobregat, nr Barcelona Airport. Club now located in Terrassa, nr Barcelona].
Europe
Haig Whisky
Played as the Haig Whisky TPC (Sept 10-13). Barnes (Scot) beat Brian Waites (Eng) with a par at the fourth playoff hole, to record the last of his nine European Tour wins. [East course, Dalmahoy Hotel & CC, nr Edinburgh].
Europe
Lancome
Played as the Trophee Lancome. Won by David Graham (Aus). [Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche, nr Paris, France].
Europe
Coral
Played as the Coral Classic (June 25-28). Second-placed Michael King (Eng), Bernhard Langer (Ger) and John O'Leary (Ire) finished 2 shots behind Smyth (Ire). [Royal Porthcawl GC, Mid Glamorgan, S Wales].
Europe
Suntory
Played as the Suntory World Match Play Championship (Oct 8-11). Ballesteros (Esp) beat Ben Crenshaw (USA) by 1 hole in the 36-hole final. [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
You can subscribe to the Where2Golf channel on YT if you like to see more video content. You'll find a "Subscribe" button on any of our YouTube videos. Or if you want a quick and direct access subscribe here. Once done, any new published videos will show up in your Subscriptions feed.
