1961 Open Championship

The 1961 Open Championship was the 90th Open Championship, played 12–15 July at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Arnold Palmer won the first of two consecutive Open Championships, one stroke ahead of Dai Rees.[1] It was the second Open for Palmer, the runner-up in his first in 1960, and the fourth of his seven major titles. He was the first American to win the Claret Jug since Ben Hogan in 1953. This was the second Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, which hosted in 1954.

1961 Open Championship
Tournament information
Dates12–15 July 1961
LocationSouthport, England
Course(s)Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Statistics
Par72 [1]
Length6,844 yards (6,258 m)
Field108 players, 48 after cut[2]
Cut153 (+9)
Prize fund£8,500
$23,800
Winner's share£1,400
$3,920
Champion
United States Arnold Palmer
284 (−4)
← 1960
1962 →
Southport is located in England
Southport
Southport

Qualifying took place on 10–11 July. Entries played 18 holes on the Championship course and 18 holes at Hillside Golf Club. The number of qualifiers was limited to a maximum of 120. Ties for 120th place would not qualify. The qualifying score was 151 and 108 players qualified. There were 22 players on 152. Bob Charles led the qualifiers on 136, two ahead of Gary Player.[3][4][5] A maximum of 50 players could make the cut after 36 holes. Ties for 50th place did not make the cut.

Gale-force winds caused scores to soar during the second round on Thursday,[6] followed by heavy rains which washed out both rounds on Friday.[7] Cancellation was a possibility, but the weather cooperated enough to play the third and fourth rounds in showers on Saturday.[1][8]

1959 Open champion and reigning Masters champion Gary Player withdrew early in the third round due to a stomach ailment.[1]

Course layout

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Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Yards 520 427 416 212 315 468 158 434 418 3,368 390 368 452 202 517 381 510 186 470 3,476 6,844
Par 5 4 4 3 4 5 3 4 4 36 4 4 4 3 5 4 5 3 4 36 72

Round summaries

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First round

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Wednesday, 12 July 1961

Place Player Score To par
T1   Harold Henning 68 −4
  Kel Nagle
  Dai Rees
T4   Jean Garaïalde 69 −3
  Norman Johnson
  David Miller
T7   Alan Brookes 70 −2
  Neil Coles
  Sam King
  John MacDonald
  Arnold Palmer
  Lionel Platts

Second round

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Thursday, 13 July 1961

Place Player Score To par
T1   Harold Henning 68-74=142 −2
  Dai Rees 68-74=142
T3   Kel Nagle 68-75=143 −1
  Arnold Palmer 70-73=143
T5   Neil Coles 70-77=147 +3
  Sam King 70-77=147
  Ramón Sota 71-76=147
  Peter Thomson 75-72=147
T9   Peter Alliss 73-75=148 +4
  Ken Bousfield 71-77=148
  Harry Bradshaw 73-75=148
  Peter Butler 72-76=148
  Eric Lester 71-77=148
  David Miller 69-79=148
  Christy O'Connor Snr 71-77=148
  Dave Thomas 71-77=148
  Brian Wilkes 72-76=148

Amateurs: Christmas (+6), White (+6), Chapman (+11), Bonallack (+15), Carr (+17), Reece (+18), Pearson (+25)

Third round

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Saturday, 15 July 1961 - (morning)

Place Player Score To par
1   Arnold Palmer 70-73-69=212 −4
2   Dai Rees 68-74-71=213 −3
3   Christy O'Connor Snr 71-77-67=215 −1
4   Neil Coles 70-77-69=216 E
T5   Harold Henning 68-74-75=217 +1
  Peter Thomson 75-72-70=217
7   Kel Nagle 68-75-75=218 +2
T8   Eric Brown 73-76-70=219 +3
  Norman Johnson 69-80-70=219
  Ramón Sota 71-76-72=219

Final round

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Saturday, 15 July 1961 - (afternoon)

Place Player Score To par Money (£)
1   Arnold Palmer 70-73-69-72=284 −4 1,400
2   Dai Rees 68-74-71-72=285 −3 1,000
T3   Neil Coles 70-77-69-72=288 E 710
  Christy O'Connor Snr 71-77-67-73=288
T5   Eric Brown 73-76-70-70=289 +1 400
  Kel Nagle 68-75-75-71=289
7   Peter Thomson 75-72-70-73=290 +2 275
T8   Peter Alliss 73-75-72-71=291 +3 190
  Ken Bousfield 71-77-75-68=291
T10   Harold Henning 68-74-75-76=293 +5 140
  Syd Scott 76-75-71-71=293

Amateurs: White (+18), Christmas (+20)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Palmer takes British crown". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. 16 July 1961. p. 1B.
  2. ^ "Media guide". The Open Championship. 2011. pp. 75, 203–8. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  3. ^ "Player's controlled power an Open golf hint - Charles leading qualifier". The Times. 12 July 1961. p. 12.
  4. ^ "Palmer fires opening 71 in British Open tourney". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. 10 July 1961. p. 3B.
  5. ^ "Trick-shooting Ezar fires 70". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. 11 July 1961. p. 3B.
  6. ^ "Palmer trailing by one in British". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. 14 July 1961. p. 15.
  7. ^ "British weather may halt open tourney". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. 15 July 1961. p. 9.
  8. ^ Longhurst, Henry (24 July 1961). "Arnie gets the one he wanted". Sports Illustrated. p. 20. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
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53°37′19″N 3°01′59″W / 53.622°N 3.033°W / 53.622; -3.033