The 25th Masters was held in 1961

The 25th  Masters Tournament, held April 6–10 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.

This year saw the first of three green jackets for Gary Player, then aged just 25 years old. It was to be the second of his nine major titles. Gary Player went on to win again at Augusta more than a decade later in 1974 and 1978.  A young Jack Nicklaus, then just 21 years of age recorded the first of his 22 top-10 finishes at Augusta and his last as an amateur. He finished in a tie for 7th place but the low amateur honors went to Charles Coe. Jack regained the U.S. Amateur title in September at Pebble Beach and following that turned professional in the November.

A look pack at the play in 1961

Flooding of several greens occurred due to heavy rain in April 61 and Sunday’s final round was halted before 4 p.m. and the scores were erased, at this point ten players had completed their rounds. Third round leader Gary Player was even par through eleven holes, and defending champion Arnold Palmer was two-under through nine. The players went on to re play the entire round the following day

Monday’s final round saw Gary Player hold off Palmer and amateur Charles Coe by one stroke to catapult him to be the first international champion at the Masters.

A field of 88 players entered the tournament and 41 of them made the cut at five-over-par

Amateur Deane Beman won the Par 3 contest with a score of 22; he later became the second commissioner of the PGA Tour, from 1974 to 1994.

For a Gary Player account and reflection of his 1961 win click below

Gary Player reflection Interview