Gary Player finished -8 and took 18% of the purse. That $20,000 is worth about $222,298 in 2026 dollars.
How the 1961 Masters Tournament purse was split
Every paid player in finishing order. The top 10 took 71% of the money, and the dashed line marks the smallest check.
1961 Masters Tournament prize money for every player
Final positions and prize money, with what the same untied position paid the year before.
| Pos | Player | To par | Last year | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gary Player | -8 | $17,500 | $20,000 +14% |
| T2 | Charles Coe Amateur | -7 | $10,500 | Not known |
| T2 | Arnold Palmer | -7 | $10,500 | $12,000 |
| T4 | Tommy Bolt | -3 | $5,250 | $7,000 |
| T4 | Don January | -3 | $5,250 | $7,000 |
| 6 | Paul Harney | -2 | $2,800 | $4,800 +71% |
| T7 | Jack Burke, Jr. | -1 | $3,200 | |
| T7 | Billy Casper | -1 | $3,200 | |
| T7 | Bill Collins | -1 | $3,200 | |
| T7 | Jack Nicklaus Amateur | -1 | Not known | |
| T11 | Walter Burkemo | E | $1,225 | $1,667 |
| T11 | Robert W. Gardner Amateur | E | $1,225 | Not known |
| T11 | Doug Sanders | E | $1,225 | $1,667 |
| T11 | Ken Venturi | E | $1,225 | $1,667 |
| T15 | Stan Leonard | +1 | $1,300 | |
| T15 | Gene Littler | +1 | $1,300 | |
| T15 | Bob Rosburg | +1 | $1,300 | |
| T15 | Sam Snead | +1 | $1,300 | |
| T19 | Dick Mayer | +3 | $1,133 | |
| T19 | Johnny Pott | +3 | $1,133 | |
| T19 | Peter Thomson | +3 | $1,133 | |
| T22 | Roberto De Vicenzo | +4 | $1,000 | |
| T22 | Lew Worsham | +4 | $1,000 | |
| T24 | Antonio Cerdá | +5 | $1,000 | |
| T24 | Fred Hawkins | +5 | $1,000 | |
| T24 | Ted Kroll | +5 | $1,000 | |
| 27 | Al Balding | +6 | $1,000 | |
| T28 | Mason Rudolph | +7 | $500 | |
| T28 | Mike Souchak | +7 | $500 | |
| T30 | Jay Hebert | +8 | $500 | |
| T30 | Lionel Hebert | +8 | $500 | |
| T32 | Doug Ford | +10 | $500 | |
| T32 | Ben Hogan | +10 | $500 | |
| T32 | Byron Nelson | +10 | $500 | |
| 35 | Chick Harbert | +11 | $500 | |
| 36 | Bob Goalby | +12 | $500 | |
| 37 | Jerry Barber | +13 | $500 | |
| 38 | Miguel Sala | +20 | $500 | |
| CUT | Deane Beman Amateur | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Chuck Kocsis Amateur | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Charles Lewis III Amateur | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Cary Middlecoff | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Ángel Miguel | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Chi-Chi Rodríguez | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | Jim Turnesa | +6 | $0 | |
| CUT | George Bayer | +7 | $0 | |
| CUT | Julius Boros | +7 | $0 | |
| CUT | Robert Sweeny Jr. Amateur | +7 | $0 | |
| CUT | Keith Alexander Amateur | +8 | $0 | |
| CUT | Dow Finsterwald | +8 | $0 | |
| CUT | Mário Gonzalez | +8 | $0 | |
| CUT | Sebastián Miguel | +8 | $0 | |
| CUT | Bud Taylor Amateur | +8 | $0 | |
| CUT | Don Cherry Amateur | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Bruce Crampton | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Jimmy Demaret | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Bill Kerr | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Kel Nagle | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Billy Joe Patton Amateur | +9 | $0 | |
| CUT | Bill Hyndman Amateur | +10 | $0 | |
| CUT | Lloyd Mangrum | +11 | $0 | |
| CUT | Sam Parks Jr. | +11 | $0 | |
| CUT | Ed Furgol | +12 | $0 | |
| CUT | Gene Sarazen | +12 | $0 | |
| CUT | William C. Campbell Amateur | +13 | $0 | |
| CUT | Vic Ghezzi | +13 | $0 | |
| CUT | Claude Harmon | +13 | $0 | |
| CUT | Bob Harris | +13 | $0 | |
| CUT | Phil Brownlee Amateur | +14 | $0 | |
| CUT | Dick Chapman Amateur | +15 | $0 | |
| CUT | Steve Spray Amateur | +15 | $0 | |
| CUT | Billy Burke | +16 | $0 | |
| CUT | Bob Cochran Amateur | +16 | $0 | |
| CUT | John Farquhar Amateur | +16 | $0 | |
| CUT | Craig Wood | +16 | $0 | |
| CUT | Claude Wild Amateur | +17 | $0 | |
| CUT | Herman Keiser | +18 | $0 | |
| CUT | Tony Manero | +18 | $0 | |
| CUT | Johnny Revolta | +20 | $0 | |
| CUT | Denny Shute | +21 | $0 | |
| CUT | Ward Wettlaufer Amateur | +21 | $0 | |
| CUT | Horton Smith | +25 | $0 | |
| WD | Jack Fleck | +2 | Not known | |
| WD | Wes Ellis | +6 | Not known | |
| WD | Dutch Harrison | +10 | Not known | |
| WD | Chandler Harper | +2 | Not known | |
| WD | Jock Hutchison | Not known | ||
| WD | Fred McLeod | Not known |
Masters Tournament winner's share over time
This year is labeled. Full tournament history →
1961 Masters Tournament payout FAQ
How much did the winner of the 1961 Masters Tournament get?
Gary Player won $20,000 from a $109,100 purse.
What was the 1961 Masters Tournament purse?
$109,100.
How much did last place get at the 1961 Masters Tournament?
The smallest check was $500, to Miguel Sala (38).
How many players made the cut at the 1961 Masters Tournament?
38 players made the cut and finished, and 44 players missed it.