Home › Seasons › 1961

Season · 1961

1961 PGA Tour money list

Gary Player led the 1961 PGA Tour money list with $64,540, about $717,355 in 2026 dollars. The tour played 51 events for $1,557,500 in total purses.

$65KMoney-list leader
$1.6MTotal purses
51Events

1961 PGA Tour money list

The top 10, from the published season money list. Official prize money in 1961 dollars, with 2026 dollars in the table.

RankPlayerWinsOfficial prize moneyIn 2026 dollars
1Gary Player3$64,540$717,355
2Arnold Palmer6$61,091$679,020
3Doug Sanders5$57,428$638,306
4Billy Casper1$37,767$419,776
5Jay Hebert2$35,583$395,501
6Johnny Pott0$33,268$369,770
7Gay Brewer3$31,150$346,229
8Bob Goalby2$30,919$343,661
9Gene Littler1$29,246$325,066
10Billy Maxwell2$28,335$314,940

The 1961 majors

TournamentChampionPurseWinner's share
Masters TournamentGary Player$109,100$20,000
U.S. OpenGene Littler$60,500$14,000
The Open ChampionshipArnold Palmer$23,800$3,920
PGA ChampionshipJerry Barber$64,800$11,000

1961 PGA Tour schedule and purses

Every event on the season schedule, with its winner and total purse.

DateTournamentWinnerPurse
Jan 9Los Angeles OpenBob Goalby$45,000
Jan 15San Diego Open InvitationalArnold Palmer$22,500
Jan 22Bing Crosby National Pro-AmBob Rosburg$50,000
Jan 29Lucky International OpenGary Player$57,000
Feb 5Palm Springs Golf ClassicBilly Maxwell$52,000
Feb 13Phoenix Open InvitationalArnold Palmer$30,000
Feb 19Home of the Sun OpenDave Hill$20,000
Feb 26Baton Rouge Open InvitationalArnold Palmer$20,000
Mar 5Greater New Orleans Open InvitationalDoug Sanders$30,000
Mar 12Pensacola Open InvitationalTommy Bolt$20,000
Mar 19St. Petersburg Open InvitationalBob Goalby$20,000
Mar 26Sunshine Open InvitationalGary Player$25,000
Apr 2Azalea OpenJerry Barber$12,000
Apr 10Masters TournamentGary Player$110,000
Apr 16Greater Greensboro OpenMike Souchak$22,500
Apr 24Houston ClassicJay Hebert$40,000
Apr 30Texas Open InvitationalArnold Palmer$30,000
May 7Tournament of ChampionsSam Snead$52,000
May 7Waco Turner OpenButch Baird$20,000
May 14Colonial National InvitationDoug Sanders$40,000
May 21Hot Springs Open InvitationalDoug Sanders$20,000
May 28500 Festival Open InvitationDoug Ford$50,000
Jun 4Memphis Open InvitationalCary Middlecoff$30,000
Jun 17U.S. OpenGene Littler$60,000
Jun 25Western OpenArnold Palmer$55,000
Jul 3Buick Open InvitationalJack Burke, Jr.$50,000
Jul 9St. Paul Open InvitationalDon January$30,000
Jul 15The Open Championship UnofficialArnold Palmer£8,500
Jul 15Canadian OpenJacky Cupit$30,000
Jul 23Milwaukee Open InvitationalBruce Crampton$30,000
Jul 31PGA ChampionshipJerry Barber$65,000
Aug 6Eastern Open InvitationalDoug Sanders$35,000
Aug 13Insurance City Open InvitationalBilly Maxwell$30,000
Aug 20Carling Open InvitationalGay Brewer$35,000
Aug 27American Golf ClassicJay Hebert$50,000
Sep 4Dallas Open InvitationalEarl Stewart$30,000
Sep 10Denver Open InvitationalDave Hill$25,000
Sep 17Greater Seattle Open InvitationalDave Marr$25,000
Sep 24Portland Open InvitationalBilly Casper$25,000
Oct 1Bakersfield OpenJack Fleck$25,000
Oct 15Ontario OpenEric Monti$20,000
Oct 22Orange County Open InvitationalBob McCallister$17,500
Nov 5Almaden Open InvitationalJim Ferrier$12,000
Nov 12Beaumont Open InvitationalJoe Campbell$20,000
Nov 19Cajun Classic Open InvitationalDoug Sanders$15,000
Nov 26Mobile Sertoma Open InvitationalGay Brewer$15,000
Dec 3West Palm Beach Open InvitationalGay Brewer$20,000
Dec 10Coral Gables Open InvitationalGeorge Knudson$20,000
Oct 14Ryder Cup UnofficialNot knownNot known
Jun 4Canada Cup UnofficialJimmy Demaret / Sam Snead$6,300
Jun 4Canada Cup Individual Trophy UnofficialSam Snead$6,300
← 1960 season1962 season →