In hot and windy conditions, Larry Nelson won his second PGA Championship in a sudden-death playoff over 1977 champion Lanny Wadkins.

Two major champions in contention shot high scores and fell back: Seve Ballesteros (78) and Raymond Floyd (80).

With the win, Nelson gained an automatic bid to the Ryder Cup team in 1987, his third, bumping Don Pooley.

[8] Nelson's record in that competition in late September was 0–3–1, as the U.S. lost the Cup for the first time on home soil.

First to putt, Nelson saved par but Wadkins missed his attempt to extend the playoff.