# 1961 PGA Tour

The 1961 PGA Tour was the 46th season of the PGA Tour, the main professional golf tour in the United States.

## Schedule

The following table lists official events during the 1961 season.
| Date | Tournament | Location | Purse (US$) | Winner | Notes |
| Jan 9 | Los Angeles Open | California | 45,000 | Bob Goalby (3) | |
| Jan 15 | San Diego Open Invitational | California | 22,500 | Arnold Palmer (22) | |
| Jan 22 | Bing Crosby National Pro-Am | California | 50,000 | Bob Rosburg (5) | Pro-Am |
| Jan 29 | Lucky International Open | California | 57,000 | Gary Player (3) | New tournament |
| Feb 5 | Palm Springs Golf Classic | California | 52,000 | Billy Maxwell (5) | Pro-Am |
| Feb 13 | Phoenix Open Invitational | Arizona | 30,000 | Arnold Palmer (23) | |
| Feb 19 | Home of the Sun Open | Arizona | 20,000 | Dave Hill (1) | |
| Feb 26 | Baton Rouge Open Invitational | Louisiana | 20,000 | Arnold Palmer (24) | |
| Mar 5 | Greater New Orleans Open Invitational | Louisiana | 30,000 | Doug Sanders (4) | |
| Mar 12 | Pensacola Open Invitational | Florida | 20,000 | Tommy Bolt (15) | |
| Mar 19 | St. Petersburg Open Invitational | Florida | 20,000 | Bob Goalby (4) | |
| Mar 26 | Sunshine Open Invitational | Florida | 25,000 | Gary Player (4) | New tournament |
| Apr 2 | Azalea Open | North Carolina | 12,000 | Jerry Barber (5) | |
| Apr 10 | Masters Tournament | Georgia | 110,000 | Gary Player (5) | Major championship |
| Apr 16 | Greater Greensboro Open | North Carolina | 22,500 | Mike Souchak (13) | |
| Apr 24 | Houston Classic | Texas | 40,000 | Jay Hebert (6) | |
| Apr 30 | Texas Open Invitational | Texas | 30,000 | Arnold Palmer (25) | |
| May 7 | Tournament of Champions | Nevada | 52,000 | Sam Snead (81) | Winners-only event |
| May 7 | Waco Turner Open | Oklahoma | 20,000 | Butch Baird (1) | New tournament Alternate event |
| May 14 | Colonial National Invitation | Texas | 40,000 | Doug Sanders (5) | Invitational |
| May 21 | Hot Springs Open Invitational | Arkansas | 20,000 | Doug Sanders (6) | |
| May 28 | 500 Festival Open Invitation | Indiana | 50,000 | Doug Ford (16) | |
| Jun 4 | Memphis Open Invitational | Tennessee | 30,000 | Cary Middlecoff (39) | |
| Jun 17 | U.S. Open | Michigan | 60,000 | Gene Littler (17) | Major championship |
| Jun 25 | Western Open | Michigan | 55,000 | Arnold Palmer (26) | |
| Jul 3 | Buick Open Invitational | Michigan | 50,000 | Jack Burke Jr. (15) | |
| Jul 9 | St. Paul Open Invitational | Minnesota | 30,000 | Don January (3) | |
| Jul 15 | The Open Championship | England | £8,500 | Arnold Palmer (27) | Major championship |
| Jul 15 | Canadian Open | Canada | 30,000 | Jacky Cupit (1) | |
| Jul 23 | Milwaukee Open Invitational | Wisconsin | 30,000 | Bruce Crampton (1) | |
| Jul 31 | PGA Championship | Illinois | 65,000 | Jerry Barber (6) | Major championship |
| Aug 6 | Eastern Open Invitational | Maryland | 35,000 | Doug Sanders (7) | |
| Aug 13 | Insurance City Open Invitational | Connecticut | 30,000 | Billy Maxwell (6) | |
| Aug 20 | Carling Open Invitational | Maryland | 35,000 | Gay Brewer (1) | |
| Aug 27 | American Golf Classic | Ohio | 50,000 | Jay Hebert (7) | New tournament |
| Sep 4 | Dallas Open Invitational | Texas | 30,000 | Earl Stewart (3) | |
| Sep 10 | Denver Open Invitational | Colorado | 25,000 | Dave Hill (2) | |
| Sep 17 | Greater Seattle Open Invitational | Washington | 25,000 | Dave Marr (1) | |
| Sep 24 | Portland Open Invitational | Oregon | 25,000 | Billy Casper (14) | |
| Oct 1 | Bakersfield Open | California | 25,000 | Jack Fleck (3) | New tournament |
| Oct 15 | Ontario Open | California | 20,000 | Eric Monti (3) | New tournament |
| Oct 22 | Orange County Open Invitational | California | 17,500 | Bob McCallister (1) | |
| Nov 5 | Almaden Open Invitational | California | 12,000 | Jim Ferrier (18) | New to PGA Tour |
| Nov 12 | Beaumont Open Invitational | Texas | 20,000 | Joe Campbell (1) | New tournament |
| Nov 19 | Cajun Classic Open Invitational | Louisiana | 15,000 | Doug Sanders (8) | |
| Nov 26 | Mobile Sertoma Open Invitational | Alabama | 15,000 | Gay Brewer (2) | |
| Dec 3 | West Palm Beach Open Invitational | Florida | 20,000 | Gay Brewer (3) | |
| Dec 10 | Coral Gables Open Invitational | Florida] | 20,000 | George Knudson (1) | |

### Unofficial events

The following events were sanctioned by the PGA Tour, but did not carry official money, nor were wins official.
| Date | Tournament | Location | Purse ($) | Winner(s) | Notes |
| Oct 14 | Ryder Cup | England | n/a | Team USA | Team event |
| Jun 4 | Canada Cup | Puerto Rico | 6,300 | Jimmy Demaret and Sam Snead | Team event |
| Jun 4 | Canada Cup Individual Trophy | Puerto Rico | 6,300 | Sam Snead | |

## Money list

The money list was based on prize money won during the season, calculated in U.S. dollars.
| Position | Player | Prize money ($) |
| 1 | Gary Player | 64,540 |
| 2 | Arnold Palmer | 61,091 |
| 3 | Doug Sanders | 57,428 |
| 4 | Billy Casper | 37,767 |
| 5 | Jay Hebert | 35,583 |
| 6 | Johnny Pott | 33,268 |
| 7 | Gay Brewer | 31,150 |
| 8 | Bob Goalby | 30,919 |
| 9 | Gene Littler | 29,246 |
| 10 | Billy Maxwell | 28,335 |

## Awards

| Award | Winner | Ref. |
| PGA Player of the Year | Jerry Barber | |
| Scoring leader (Vardon Trophy) | Arnold Palmer | |