1961 U.S. Amateur: Jack Nicklaus wins at Pebble Beach Golf Links
Jack Nicklaus won the 1961 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, beating Dudley Wysong 8 & 6 in the final.
Updated October 22, 2026
Walk this draw in the U.S. Amateur room.
- Edition
- 61st
- Dates
- September 11, 1961 to September 16, 1961
- Course
- Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California
- Format
- match play (sectional qualifying only)
- Champion
- Jack Nicklaus · age 21 · United States · Ohio State University
- Champion's title
- 2nd U.S. Amateur
- Runner-up
- Dudley Wysong · age 22
- Final
- 8 & 6
- Losing semifinalists
- Marion Methvin Jr. and Joe Carr
- Defending champion
- Deane Beman · lost in round of 128
- Entries
- 1,995
What happened at the 1961 U.S. Amateur
Final: in fog and rain Nicklaus shot a 3-under 69 in the morning (including a 42-foot birdie putt on the 16th) to lead 4 up at lunch and closed out Wysong after 12 afternoon holes; AP had him 24 under par for 136 holes over the week.
Third round: two-time champion Charles Coe lost to Gene Francis, who won the last three holes from 2 down; on the 18th Coe's tee shot stuck in a tree and his fourth shot went into the ocean.
Round of 64, Gene Francis v. Charles Coe, 1 up. Francis, 2 down with three to play, won the last three holes; at the 18th Coe's tee shot stuck in a tree and his fourth shot landed in the ocean.
Round of 128, Billy Joe Patton v. Deane Beman. Billy Joe Patton eliminated defending champion Deane Beman in Tuesday's second round.
Semifinal, Jack Nicklaus v. Marion Methvin Jr., 9 & 8. Nicklaus overwhelmed LSU's Marion Methvin Jr., who putted with a wooden-shafted Scottish putter his niece found in a basement.
The draw
Every match is recorded through the round of 16; earlier rounds are partial (round of 32 (8 of 16 matches with players and result; 8 rows)).
The final, 1961 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus | def. | Dudley Wysong | 8 & 6 |
Semifinals, 1961 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus | def. | Marion Methvin Jr. | 9 & 8 |
| Dudley Wysong | def. | Joe Carr | 2 up |
Quarterfinals, 1961 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Methvin Jr. | def. | Charlie Smith | 5 & 4 |
| Jack Nicklaus | def. | Sam Carmichael | 3 & 1 |
| Joe Carr | def. | Gene Francis | 1 up |
| Dudley Wysong | def. | Richy Norville | 6 & 5 |
Round of 16, 1961 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Carr | def. | Chuck Courtney | 2 & 1 |
| Dudley Wysong | def. | Ed Hopkins Jr. | 4 & 3 |
| Richy Norville | def. | R. H. Sikes | 1 up |
| Gene Francis | def. | Frank Hoover | 3 & 2 |
| Jack Nicklaus | def. | Johnny Humm | 3 & 1 |
| Sam Carmichael | def. | Ken Finke | 3 & 2 |
| Marion Methvin Jr. | def. | Dick Hanen | 2 up |
| Charlie Smith | def. | Marv Olshan | 3 & 1 |
Round of 32, 1961 U.S. Amateur
| Winner | Beaten | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Nicklaus | def. | David Smith Jr. | 2 & 1 |
| Joe Carr | def. | Sam Marsh | 2 & 1 |
| Chuck Courtney | def. | Bud Taylor | 2 up |
| Dudley Wysong | def. | Ronnie Shade | 3 & 2 |
| R. H. Sikes | def. | Billy Joe Patton | 4 & 2 |
| Sam Carmichael | def. | Homero Blancas | 3 & 1 |
| Johnny Humm | def. | Anthony Clecak | 2 & 1 |
| Ken Finke | def. | Jerry Jackson | 2 & 1 |
How this was built
Every value is shown as recorded in GNN's U.S. Amateur data set (research collected through October 20, 2026). "unknown" means no source confirmed it; nothing is estimated. Where sources disagree, the USGA's own record is used.
Data: us-amateur.json.