1961 U.S. Open Goes to Littler
The 1961 U.S. Open was the 61st time the tournament was played. The champ won his only major trophy here.
Winner: Gene Littler, 281
Where it was played: Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, Michigan
Tournament dates: June 15-17, 1961
Leader after first round: Bobby Brue, 69
Leader after second round: Bob Rosburg and Doug Sanders, 139
Leader after third round: Doug Sanders, 210
Notable Notes: Gene Littler won his only major championship here, shooting 68 in the final round. Littler trailed Doug Sanders by three entering Round 4, but Sanders closed with a 72 and finished one behind, tied with Bob Goalby in second place.
Final Scores
| Gene Littler | 73-68-72-68—281 |
| Bob Goalby | 70-72-69-71—282 |
| Doug Sanders | 72-67-71-72—282 |
| a-Jack Nicklaus | 75-69-70-70—284 |
| Mike Souchak | 73-70-68-73—284 |
| Dow Finsterwald | 72-71-71-72—286 |
| Doug Ford | 72-69-71-74—286 |
| Eric Monti | 74-67-72-73—286 |
| Jacky Cupit | 72-72-67-76—287 |
| Gardner Dickinson | 72-69-71-75—287 |
| Gary Player | 75-72-69-71—287 |
| a-Deane Beman | 74-72-72-70—288 |
| Al Geiberger | 71-70-73-74—288 |
| Dave Douglas | 72-72-75-70—289 |
| Ben Hogan | 71-72-73-73—289 |
| Arnold Palmer | 74-75-70-70—289 |
| Billy Casper | 74-71-73-72—290 |
| Dutch Harrison | 74-71-76-69—290 |
| Kel Nagle | 71-71-74-74—290 |
| Sam Snead | 73-70-74-73—290 |
| Bob Rosburg | 72-67-74-78—291 |
| Tommy Bolt | 70-73-73-76—292 |
| Bob Brue | 69-72-73-78—292 |
| Bruce Crampton | 71-71-74-76—292 |
| Jim Ferrier | 74-72-71-75—292 |
| Billy Maxwell | 73-74-72-73—292 |
| Jack Fleck | 73-71-79-70—293 |
| Ted Kroll | 78-69-73-73—293 |
| a-Edward Brantly | 75-70-72-77—294 |
| Chick Harbert | 75-71-69-79—294 |
| Robert Harrison | 79-70-71-74—294 |
| Milon Marusic | 75-74-71-74—294 |
| Jerry Steelsmith | 74-74-72-74—294 |
| Jerry Barber | 75-72-76-72—295 |
| Gene Coghill | 76-73-74-72—295 |
| Bob Harris | 75-67-78-75—295 |
| Herman Scharlau | 75-69-73-78—295 |
| Jim Ferree | 73-72-78-73—296 |
| Marty Furgol | 71-73-76-76—296 |
| Wes Ellis | 74-72-74-77—297 |
| Joe Taylor | 76-71-74-76—297 |
| Billy Farrell | 76-71-77-74—298 |
| a-Bill Hyndman | 73-75-73-77—298 |
| Dick Mayer | 75-73-75-75—298 |
| Doug Higgins | 76-73-75-75—299 |
| Mason Rudolph | 78-70-72-79—299 |
| Robert Shave Jr. | 73-75-74-77—299 |
| Frank Stranahan | 73-76-76-74—299 |
| Jay Hebert | 77-71-77-75—300 |
| a-Edward Meister Jr. | 78-71-75-76—300 |
| Rex Baxter | 71-78-75-77—301 |
| Bob Bruno | 78-71-77-75—301 |
| Dave Hill | 76-71-75-79—301 |
| Jackson Bradley | 75-73-78-76—302 |
| Paul Harney | 71-77-75-81—304 |
| Charles Malchaski | 76-73-77-78—304 |
| Jack Lumpkin | 73-76-81-79—309 |
