1971 PGA Championship 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. 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
PGA West Stadium Course known as the Bob Hope Classic) in 1987 and again starting in 2016, and the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf on the Senior PGA Tour in 1995 and 1996. The PGA West Stadium Course has hosted many important golf tournaments and is considered one of the most challenging courses in America. The PGA West Stadium Course has long been known as the course that was too tough for the professionals. In 1987 it made its first appearance as a PGA Tour venue in the Bob Hope Classic (now known as the Desert Classic). After creating a challenging course setup in