Jim Ferrier
Encyclopedia
James B. Ferrier was an Australia
n professional golf
er from Manly, New South Wales
. He became an American
citizen in 1944.
, Australia
. He was taught golf as a youth by his father, a low handicap player. Ferrier injured a leg playing soccer in his teens, and he had to contend with a severe limp for the rest of his life. Ferrier was playing to a scratch handicap by his mid-teens, when he left school to be able to play more golf. He was runner-up in the 1931 Australian Open
at the age of sixteen. He won the Australian Amateur
title in 1935, 1936, 1938 and 1939. He was also victorious in the Australian Open as an amateur
in 1938 and 1939, and won several other significant Australian events. He was runner-up in the British Amateur
at St Andrews
in 1936. Ferrier worked as a golf reporter and writer for several Australian publications.
, where he turned professional and joined the PGA Tour
. He and his wife Norma worked in defence industry jobs during World War II
; this was part of conditions to become American citizens.
His most significant win came at the PGA Championship
, one of golf's four major championships
, in 1947. He was the first Australian to win a major, and at the time this gave him a lifetime exemption to PGA Tour events. He later led Jimmy Demaret
by three shots with six holes to play in the 1950 Masters, eventually finishing second to Demaret. Ferrier scored 16 of his 18 PGA titles between 1947 and 1952, with a peak of five wins in 1951. His other significant victories included the Canadian Open in 1950 and 1951. He was also runner-up in the 1960 PGA Championship at age 45. He was renowned as an outstanding putter.
In June 1954, he appeared on the television game show You Bet Your Life
hosted by Groucho Marx
, of Marx Brothers
fame. Paired with Marilyn Pierce, a dog trainer and former model, he showed a conservative betting style and great charm, as evidenced by this short exchange with Groucho:
, which began in the late 1970s, came about a decade too late for him to compete effectively. Ferrier has not yet been inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame
, but his career achievements are comparable or even superior to those of Tommy Bolt
, a Hall member born in 1916, who played on the PGA Tour during approximately the same era as Ferrier.
Ferrier died in California
.
Major championship
is shown in bold.
Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er from Manly, New South Wales
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
. He became an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen in 1944.
Early years
Ferrier was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He was taught golf as a youth by his father, a low handicap player. Ferrier injured a leg playing soccer in his teens, and he had to contend with a severe limp for the rest of his life. Ferrier was playing to a scratch handicap by his mid-teens, when he left school to be able to play more golf. He was runner-up in the 1931 Australian Open
Australian Open (golf)
The Australian Open is one of the principal annual golf tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and also the OneAsia Tour since its formation in 2009. The event was first played in 1904 and takes place toward the end of each year...
at the age of sixteen. He won the Australian Amateur
Australian Amateur
The Australian Amateur is the national amateur golf championship of Australia. It has been played annually since 1894 and is organized by Golf Australia....
title in 1935, 1936, 1938 and 1939. He was also victorious in the Australian Open as an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
in 1938 and 1939, and won several other significant Australian events. He was runner-up in the British Amateur
The Amateur Championship
The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur...
at St Andrews
Old Course at St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world. The Old Course is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by The St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament...
in 1936. Ferrier worked as a golf reporter and writer for several Australian publications.
Joins PGA Tour
In 1940, Ferrier went to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he turned professional and joined the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
. He and his wife Norma worked in defence industry jobs during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; this was part of conditions to become American citizens.
His most significant win came at the PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
, one of golf's four major championships
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
, in 1947. He was the first Australian to win a major, and at the time this gave him a lifetime exemption to PGA Tour events. He later led Jimmy Demaret
Jimmy Demaret
James Newton Demaret was an American professional golfer. He won 31 PGA Tour events in a long career between 1935 and 1957, and was the first three-time winner of the Masters....
by three shots with six holes to play in the 1950 Masters, eventually finishing second to Demaret. Ferrier scored 16 of his 18 PGA titles between 1947 and 1952, with a peak of five wins in 1951. His other significant victories included the Canadian Open in 1950 and 1951. He was also runner-up in the 1960 PGA Championship at age 45. He was renowned as an outstanding putter.
In June 1954, he appeared on the television game show You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life
You Bet Your Life is an American quiz show that aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show debuted on ABC Radio in October 1947, then moved to CBS Radio in September...
hosted by Groucho Marx
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx was an American comedian and film star famed as a master of wit. His rapid-fire delivery of innuendo-laden patter earned him many admirers. He made 13 feature films with his siblings the Marx Brothers, of whom he was the third-born...
, of Marx Brothers
Marx Brothers
The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act, originally from New York City, that enjoyed success in Vaudeville, Broadway, and motion pictures from the early 1900s to around 1950...
fame. Paired with Marilyn Pierce, a dog trainer and former model, he showed a conservative betting style and great charm, as evidenced by this short exchange with Groucho:
- Groucho: "I play golf too, you know. What is your handicap, Jim?"
- Ferrier: "Well, as a pro, I don't have a handicap."
- Groucho: "Well congratulations. How is it a tall, handsome man like you isn't married?"
- Ferrier: "I'm married. I have a wife."
- Groucho: "You just said you didn't have a handicap. Haven't you got the same handicap that fifty million other men have?"
- Ferrier: "Well, I don't consider my wife a handicap."
Later years
In his later years, Ferrier stirred some controversy by appearing in PGA Tour events when he was well past his prime, and was no longer competitive, thereby depriving younger players of spots in the playing field. However, Ferrier was within his rights to do this, as he had earned a lifetime Tour exemption with his 1947 PGA Championship win. The eligibility rules were later tightened up. The Champions TourChampions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
, which began in the late 1970s, came about a decade too late for him to compete effectively. Ferrier has not yet been inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
, but his career achievements are comparable or even superior to those of Tommy Bolt
Tommy Bolt
Thomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer.Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana...
, a Hall member born in 1916, who played on the PGA Tour during approximately the same era as Ferrier.
Ferrier died in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
PGA Tour wins (18)
- 1944 (1) Oakland OpenOakland OpenThe Oakland Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1937 to 1944. It was played in Oakland, California at the Claremont Country Club in 1937 and at the Sequoyah Country Club from 1938 to 1944.-Winners:*1944 Jim Ferrier*1943 No tournament...
- 1947 (2) St. Paul Open, PGA ChampionshipPGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
- 1948 (1) Miami International Four-BallMiami International Four-BallThe Miami International Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1954. It was played primarily at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida...
(with Cary MiddlecoffCary MiddlecoffEmmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
) - 1949 (3) Grand Rapids Open, Kansas City Open, Miami International Four-BallMiami International Four-BallThe Miami International Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1924 to 1954. It was played primarily at what is now the Miami Springs Golf and Country Club in Miami, Florida...
(with Cary MiddlecoffCary MiddlecoffEmmett Cary Middlecoff was a dentist who gave up his practice to become a professional golfer on the PGA Tour in the 1940s....
) - 1950 (3) St. Paul Open, Canadian Open, Inverness Invitational Four-BallInverness Invitational Four-BallThe Inverness Invitational Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1935 to 1953. It was played at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.-Format:...
(with Sam SneadSam SneadSamuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
) - 1951 (5) St. Petersburg OpenSt. Petersburg Open InvitationalThe St. Petersburg Open Invitational, first played as the St. Petersburg Open, was a PGA Tour event that was held at three St. Petersburg, Florida, U.S. area clubs for 29 years from 1930 until 1964. The clubs that hosted the event were: St...
, Miami Beach OpenMiami Beach OpenThe Miami Beach Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the late 1920s and again in the 1950s. It was held at several different courses in the Miami Beach, Florida area.-Winners:^ 36-hole event-External links:* - now called Miami Beach Golf Club...
, Jacksonville Open, Canadian Open, Fort Wayne OpenFort Wayne Open (PGA Tour event)The Fort Wayne Open, which played for one year as Fort Wayne Invitational, was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the 1950s. It was played at the Orchard Ridge Country Club in 1950 before moving to the Fort Wayne Elks Lodge No... - 1952 (2) Empire State OpenEmpire State OpenThe Empire State Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1950 to 1952. It was played in the Albany, New York area at two different courses. In 1950 and 1951, it was played at the Shaker Ridge Country Club in Loudonville. For its final year, it moved to the Normanside Country Club in...
, Inverness Invitational Four-BallInverness Invitational Four-BallThe Inverness Invitational Four-Ball was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour from 1935 to 1953. It was played at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio.-Format:...
(with Sam SneadSam SneadSamuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
) - 1961 (1) Almaden Open Invitational
Major championship
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
is shown in bold.
Australasian Tour wins (10)
Note: all wins as an amateur- 1933 New South Wales OpenNew South Wales Open (golf)The New South Wales Open is an annual golf tournament held in Australia. It was founded in 1931 as the New South Wales Close Championship, before becoming the New South Wales state open championship in 1958....
- 1934 Queensland Open
- 1935 New South Wales OpenNew South Wales Open (golf)The New South Wales Open is an annual golf tournament held in Australia. It was founded in 1931 as the New South Wales Close Championship, before becoming the New South Wales state open championship in 1958....
- 1936 New South Wales OpenNew South Wales Open (golf)The New South Wales Open is an annual golf tournament held in Australia. It was founded in 1931 as the New South Wales Close Championship, before becoming the New South Wales state open championship in 1958....
- 1937 New South Wales OpenNew South Wales Open (golf)The New South Wales Open is an annual golf tournament held in Australia. It was founded in 1931 as the New South Wales Close Championship, before becoming the New South Wales state open championship in 1958....
- 1938 Australian OpenAustralian Open (golf)The Australian Open is one of the principal annual golf tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and also the OneAsia Tour since its formation in 2009. The event was first played in 1904 and takes place toward the end of each year...
, New South Wales OpenNew South Wales Open (golf)The New South Wales Open is an annual golf tournament held in Australia. It was founded in 1931 as the New South Wales Close Championship, before becoming the New South Wales state open championship in 1958....
, Queensland Open - 1939 Australian OpenAustralian Open (golf)The Australian Open is one of the principal annual golf tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and also the OneAsia Tour since its formation in 2009. The event was first played in 1904 and takes place toward the end of each year...
, Queensland Open
Wins (1)
| Year | Championship | Winning score | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
2 & 1 |  Chick Harbert |
Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958
Results timeline
| Tournament | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T44 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Amateur Championship The Amateur Championship The Amateur Championship is a golf tournament which is held annually in the United Kingdom. It is one of the two leading individual tournaments for amateur golfers, alongside the U.S. Amateur... |
2 | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| Tournament | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 26 | T29 | T15 | NT | NT | NT | T4 | T6 | T4 | T16 |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T29 | T30 | NT | NT | NT | NT | CUT | T6 | CUT | T23 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | NT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | NT | DNP | DNP | R16 | 1 | R32 | SF |
| Tournament | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | 2 | 7 | T3 | T15 | WD | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
T5 | CUT | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
R32 | R16 | R32 | R32 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T38 |
| Tournament | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | T5 | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
CUT | T22 | DNP | DNP | CUT | WD | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
2 | T45 | T39 | 7 | T56 | CUT | T49 | T64 | CUT | CUT |
| Tournament | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
| PGA Championship PGA Championship The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship... |
DNP | DNP | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | WD |
NT = No tournament
DNP = Did not play
WD = Withdrew
CUT = missed the half-way cut
R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10.
See also
- Golfers with most PGA Tour winsGolfers with most PGA Tour winsThis is a list of golfers who have won five or more official money events on the PGA Tour.Players under 50 years of age are shown in bold. On his 50th birthday a golfer becomes eligible to compete on the Champions Tour, and he is unlikely to add to his tally of PGA Tour wins after that date This is...
- Golfers with most PGA Tour of Australasia winsGolfers with most PGA Tour of Australasia winsThis is a list of golfers who have recorded the most tournament wins on the PGA Tour of Australasia since it was established in 1911. It is currently known as the PGA Tour of Australasia. It was previously named the Australian Tour from 1973 to 1991. This list contains golfers who have won any...