1961 - Men Europe
The winners in the category "1961 - Men Europe" are shown in the table below, which also includes relevant information on venues, scores and prize money.
Europe
Schweppes
Played as the Schweppes PGA Close Championship (April 6-8; for UK & Ireland professionals only). Second-placed Peter Alliss (Eng) and Christy O'Connor Sr (Ire) finished 3 shots behind Bamford (Eng). [Outer course, Royal Mid-Surrey GC, Richmond, Surrey].
Europe
Bowmaker
Played as the Bowmaker £3000 Tournament (a 36-hole pro-am event). Second-placed Denis Hutchinson (S Africa) and Kel Nagle (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Charles (NZ), who became the first left-handed professional to win a top-flight event in Britain. [Old course, Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berks].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop Masters (Sept 14-16). Second-placed Christy O'Connor Sr (Ire) finished 8 shots behind Thomson (Aus). [Royal Porthcawl GC, Mid Glamorgan, Wales].
Europe
News of the World
Played as the News of the World Match Play (Sept 6-9). Thomson (Aus) beat Ralph Moffitt (Eng) 3 and 1 in the 18-hole final. [Old course, Walton Heath GC, Walton on the Hill, Surrey].
Europe
Daks
Played as the Daks Tournament. Second-placed Neil Coles (Eng) finished 1 shot behind Hunt (Eng). [West course, Wentworth Club, Virginia Water, Surrey].
Europe
Dunlop
Played as the Dunlop £6000 Tournament. Second-placed Frank Pillips (Aus) finished 2 shots behind Nagle (Aus). [Notts GC, Hollinwell, nr Mansfield, England].
Played as the Dutch Open (July 27-30). Second-placed Brian Huggett (Wales) finished 2 shots behind Brian Wilkes (RSA). [Kennemer G&CC, Zandvoort, Netherlands].
Europe
Esso
Played as the inaugural Esso Golden Tournament (Aug 24-26; 15-player round-robin match play format). Peter Thomson (Aus) and Dave Thomas (Wales) finished in a tie for first place with 21pts. Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 3 pts further back in third place. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
Esso
Played as the inaugural Esso Golden Tournament (Aug 24-26; 15-player round-robin match play format). Peter Thomson (Aus) and Dave Thomas (Wales) finished in a tie for first place with 21pts. Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 3 pts further back in third place. [High course, Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth, Herts].
Europe
x
Played as the Swiss Open. Dai Rees (Wales) finished in second place behind Nagle (Aus). [GC Crans-sur-Sierre, Crans-Montana, Switzerland].
Europe
x
Played as the Open de France. Second-placed Peter Thomson (Aus) finished 4 shots behind Nagle (Aus). [Vallée course, Racing Club de France (RCF), La Boulie GC, Versailles, nr Paris].
Played as the German Open. Won by Hunt (Eng). [Krefelder GC, Krefeld, nr Dusseldorf].
Europe
Martini
Played as the inaugural £6000 Martini International (May 4-6). Hunt (Eng) beat George Low (Scot) in a 5-hole playoff (Hunt 16, Low 20). [East course, Sundridge Park GC, nr Bromley, Kent].
Europe
Swallow / Penfold
Played as the Swallow-Penfold Tournament. Second-placed Bernard Hunt (Eng) finished 6 shots behind Bousfield (Eng). [Stoneham GC, Southampton, Hampshire].
Europe
x
Played as the Portuguese Open (Oct 26-29). Second-placed Dave Thomas (Wales) finished 5 shots behind defending champion Ken Bousfield (Eng). [Estoril GC, Estoril, Portugal].
Europe
x
Played as the Spanish Open. Won by Angel Miguel (Esp). Angel's brother Sebastian was defending champion. This was the second of Angel Miguel's two Spanish Open wins (1961 and '64). Sebastian won the title three times (1954, '60 and '67). [Arriba course, Real (Royal) Club de la Puerta de Hierro, Madrid].
Europe
Yorkshire Eve. News
Played as the Yorkshire Evening News £1735 Tournament (June 21-23). Second-placed Dai Rees (Wales) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Peter Thomson (Aus). [Sand Moor GC, Leeds, W Yorks, England].
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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