Sports headlines for Sunday April 26, 1981:
- Watson's Birdie Binge Nets New Orleans Title
- Rookie Shepherd Wins Virginia 500
Final results of the 1981 USF&G New Orleans Open
Tournament held at Lakewood Country Club (New Orleans, LA) from April 23, 1981 to April 26, 1981 (Par 72)
| Rank | Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | To Par | Total | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne Levi | 73 | 63 | 71 | 73 | -8 | 280 | $2,950 |
| 2 | David Edwards | 71 | 65 | 69 | 72 | -11 | 277 | $9,800 |
| 3 | Gil Morgan | 68 | 66 | 68 | 71 | -15 | 273 | $23,800 |
| 4 | Fred Couples | 71 | 66 | 69 | 70 | -12 | 276 | $12,294 |
| 4 | Jay Haas | 70 | 66 | 69 | 71 | -12 | 276 | $12,294 |
| 6 | Mike McCullough | 73 | 66 | 70 | 69 | -10 | 278 | $6,950 |
| 6 | Mike Reid | 70 | 66 | 71 | 71 | -10 | 278 | $6,950 |
| 8 | Bruce Fleisher | 71 | 67 | 68 | 66 | -16 | 272 | $37,800 |
| 9 | Barry Jaeckel | 69 | 67 | 70 | 69 | -13 | 275 | $16,800 |
| 10 | Rod Curl | 70 | 67 | 69 | 71 | -11 | 277 | $9,800 |
| 11 | Keith Fergus | 69 | 67 | 70 | 73 | -9 | 279 | $4,564 |
| 12 | Peter Oosterhuis | 72 | 67 | 68 | 74 | -7 | 281 | $2,223 |
| 13 | Dave Eichelberger | 68 | 67 | 73 | 74 | -6 | 282 | $1,768 |
| 14 | Bob Eastwood | 72 | 67 | 73 | 71 | -5 | 283 | $1,295 |
| 15 | Hubert Green | 70 | 67 | 72 | 75 | -4 | 284 | $925 |
| 16 | Tim Simpson | 74 | 67 | 72 | 75 | Even | 288 | $732 |
| 16 | Gary McCord | 74 | 67 | 70 | 77 | Even | 288 | $732 |
| 18 | Ron Streck | 69 | 68 | 70 | 69 | -12 | 276 | $12,294 |
| 19 | Jim Barber | 70 | 68 | 72 | 68 | -10 | 278 | $6,950 |
| 20 | J.C. Snead | 68 | 68 | 73 | 70 | -9 | 279 | $4,564 |
| 20 | Jim Simons | 71 | 68 | 68 | 72 | -9 | 279 | $4,564 |
| 22 | Greg Powers | 69 | 68 | 70 | 73 | -8 | 280 | $2,950 |
| 23 | Scott Hoch | 68 | 68 | 73 | 74 | -5 | 283 | $1,295 |
| 24 | Fuzzy Zoeller | 68 | 68 | 72 | 76 | -4 | 284 | $925 |
| 25 | Tom Watson | 69 | 69 | 64 | 68 | -18 | 270 | $63,000 |
| 26 | Jerry McGee | 73 | 69 | 69 | 69 | -8 | 280 | $2,950 |
| 27 | Bunky Henry | 71 | 69 | 72 | 69 | -7 | 281 | $2,223 |
| 27 | Bobby Clampett | 70 | 69 | 70 | 72 | -7 | 281 | $2,223 |
| 29 | D.A. Weibring | 71 | 69 | 73 | 71 | -4 | 284 | $925 |
| 30 | Gary Hardin | 73 | 69 | 73 | 70 | -3 | 285 | $816 |
| 31 | Tim Graham | 69 | 69 | 77 | 71 | -2 | 286 | $784 |
| 32 | Lon Hinkle | 68 | 70 | 72 | 66 | -12 | 276 | $12,294 |
| 33 | Jim Dent | 70 | 70 | 68 | 70 | -10 | 278 | $6,950 |
| 33 | Bob Shearer | 71 | 70 | 65 | 72 | -10 | 278 | $6,950 |
| 35 | Brad Bryant | 70 | 70 | 69 | 71 | -8 | 280 | $2,950 |
| 35 | Mike Donald | 68 | 70 | 67 | 75 | -8 | 280 | $2,950 |
| 37 | Nick Faldo | 71 | 70 | 73 | 68 | -6 | 282 | $1,768 |
| 37 | Chi Chi Rodriguez | 72 | 70 | 70 | 70 | -6 | 282 | $1,768 |
| 37 | Roger Calvin | 69 | 70 | 68 | 75 | -6 | 282 | $1,768 |
| 40 | Pat Lindsey | 67 | 70 | 75 | 71 | -5 | 283 | $1,295 |
| 40 | Dave Barr | 72 | 70 | 68 | 73 | -5 | 283 | $1,295 |
| 42 | Beau Baugh | 72 | 70 | 72 | 71 | -3 | 285 | $816 |
| 42 | Victor Regalado | 72 | 70 | 71 | 72 | -3 | 285 | $816 |
| 44 | George Cascino | 70 | 70 | 76 | 70 | -2 | 286 | $784 |
| 44 | Dana Quigley | 72 | 70 | 72 | 72 | -2 | 286 | $784 |
| 46 | Gary Hallberg | 72 | 70 | 71 | 74 | -1 | 287 | $763 |
| 46 | George Cadle | 71 | 70 | 72 | 74 | -1 | 287 | $763 |
| 48 | Kermit Zarley | 71 | 70 | 71 | 76 | Even | 288 | $732 |
| 49 | Pete Brown | 71 | 70 | 71 | 77 | +1 | 289 | $704 |
| 50 | R.W. Eaks | 72 | 70 | 79 | 73 | +6 | 294 | $693 |
| 51 | Frank Conner | 70 | 71 | 69 | 68 | -10 | 278 | $6,950 |
| 51 | Lou Graham | 68 | 71 | 69 | 70 | -10 | 278 | $6,950 |
| 53 | Larry Ziegler | 70 | 71 | 69 | 69 | -9 | 279 | $4,564 |
| 53 | Lanny Wadkins | 69 | 71 | 69 | 70 | -9 | 279 | $4,564 |
| 55 | Mark O'Meara | 67 | 71 | 67 | 75 | -8 | 280 | $2,950 |
| 56 | Don Pooley | 69 | 71 | 70 | 72 | -6 | 282 | $1,768 |
| 57 | Andy Bean | 69 | 71 | 73 | 70 | -5 | 283 | $1,295 |
| 57 | Tom Jenkins | 71 | 71 | 70 | 71 | -5 | 283 | $1,295 |
| 57 | Charles Coody | 70 | 71 | 69 | 73 | -5 | 283 | $1,295 |
| 60 | Bruce Douglass | 70 | 71 | 72 | 71 | -4 | 284 | $925 |
| 60 | Tommy Moore | 71 | 71 | 72 | 70 | -4 | 284 | $0 |
| 62 | Jim Booros | 71 | 71 | 69 | 74 | -3 | 285 | $816 |
| 62 | Stanton Altgelt | 69 | 71 | 71 | 74 | -3 | 285 | $816 |
| 64 | Dewitt Weaver | 66 | 71 | 72 | 78 | -1 | 287 | $763 |
| 65 | Allen Miller | 70 | 71 | 73 | 74 | Even | 288 | $732 |
| 66 | Tom Jones | 70 | 71 | 74 | 74 | +1 | 289 | $704 |
| 67 | Jerry Heard | 70 | 72 | 67 | 71 | -8 | 280 | $2,950 |
| 68 | Lonnie Nielsen | 70 | 72 | 68 | 72 | -6 | 282 | $1,768 |
| 69 | David Lundstrom | 69 | 72 | 75 | 72 | Even | 288 | $732 |
| 70 | Bruce Lietzke | 68 | 73 | 69 | 71 | -7 | 281 | $2,223 |
| 71 | Charlie Gibson | 68 | 73 | 72 | 71 | -4 | 284 | $925 |
| 72 | Skip Dunaway | 64 | 74 | 69 | 81 | Even | 288 | $732 |
Missed the cut or withdrew from the tournament:
| Rank | Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | To Par | Total | Winnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Crenshaw | 71 | 72 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Bobby Cole | 68 | 75 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Bobby Wadkins | 68 | 75 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Ed Sneed | 73 | 70 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Forrest Fezler | 73 | 70 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Gary Koch | 71 | 72 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Gibby Gilbert | 72 | 71 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Howard Twitty | 73 | 70 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| John Mahaffey | 73 | 70 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Lindy Miller | 76 | 67 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Mark Lye | 71 | 72 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Mike Smith | 71 | 72 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Scott Watkins | 72 | 71 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Terry Mauney | 71 | 72 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Tim Norris | 72 | 71 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Tom Purtzer | 69 | 74 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 143 | $0 | |
| Bud Allin | 70 | 74 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Ed Fiori | 68 | 76 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Grier Jones | 73 | 71 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Jack Renner | 72 | 72 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Jeff Mitchell | 74 | 70 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Jimmy Powell | 71 | 73 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| John McGough | 73 | 71 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Lee Elder | 72 | 72 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Mark Hayes | 75 | 69 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Rod Nuckolls | 73 | 71 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Roger Maltbie | 69 | 75 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Tom Storey | 71 | 73 | 0 | 0 | Even | 144 | $0 | |
| Alan Pate | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Bill Loeffler | 71 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Bobby Mitchell | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Bobby Pancratz | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Butch Baird | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Calvin Peete | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Clint Doyle | 74 | 71 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Doug Tewell | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Ed Dougherty | 74 | 71 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| George Burns | 71 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Jim Colbert | 71 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Mike Peck | 72 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Perry Arthur | 72 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Vance Heafner | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Wally Armstrong | 73 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 145 | $0 | |
| Bobby Nichols | 72 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 146 | $0 | |
| Buddy Gardner | 74 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 146 | $0 | |
| Dave Hill | 72 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 146 | $0 | |
| Michael Brannan | 73 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 146 | $0 | |
| Mike Holland | 73 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 146 | $0 | |
| Russ Cochran | 72 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 146 | $0 | |
| Tommy Valentine | 75 | 71 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 146 | $0 | |
| Ben Duncan | 73 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 147 | $0 | |
| Jaime Gonzalez | 72 | 75 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 147 | $0 | |
| Mark Rohde | 73 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 147 | $0 | |
| Morris Hatalsky | 74 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 147 | $0 | |
| Steve Melnyk | 74 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 147 | $0 | |
| Danny Edwards | 71 | 77 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 148 | $0 | |
| David Thore | 74 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 148 | $0 | |
| Ed Selser | 76 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 148 | $0 | |
| Craig Stadler | 75 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 149 | $0 | |
| Dan Pohl | 76 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 149 | $0 | |
| Sammy Rachels | 71 | 78 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 149 | $0 | |
| Bob Murphy | 78 | 72 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 150 | $0 | |
| Mike Gove | 75 | 75 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 150 | $0 | |
| Sale Omohundro | 75 | 75 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 150 | $0 | |
| Darrell Kestner | 77 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 151 | $0 | |
| Thomas Gray | 77 | 74 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 151 | $0 | |
| John Mazza | 72 | 80 | 0 | 0 | +8 | 152 | $0 | |
| Mike Klein | 73 | 81 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 154 | $0 | |
| Mike Preston | 81 | 73 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 154 | $0 | |
| Jack Slocum | 76 | 79 | 0 | 0 | +11 | 155 | $0 | |
| Gary Trivisonno | 76 | 80 | 0 | 0 | +12 | 156 | $0 | |
| WD | Leonard Thompson | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 74 | $0 |
| WD | Barney Thompson | 77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 77 | $0 |
| WD | Joe Inman | 70 | 72 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 142 | $0 |


