| Jim Ferree | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Purvis Jennings Ferree | ||
| Nickname | Jim | ||
| Born | June 10, 1931 Pinebluff, North Carolina, U.S. | ||
| Died | March 14, 2023 (aged 91) | ||
| Sporting nationality |  United States | ||
| Residence | Hilton Head, South Carolina, U.S. | ||
| Career | |||
| College | North Carolina | ||
| Turned professional | 1955 | ||
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour Senior PGA Tour | ||
| Professional wins | 19 | ||
| Number of wins by tour | |||
| PGA Tour | 1 | ||
| PGA Tour Champions | 2 | ||
| Other | 12 (regular) 4 (senior) | ||
| Best results in major championships | |||
| Masters Tournament | DNP | ||
| PGA Championship | T28: 1964 | ||
| U.S. Open | T17: 1957 | ||
| The Open Championship | DNP | ||
| Achievements and awards | |||
| |||
Purvis Jennings "Jim" Ferree (June 10, 1931 – March 14, 2023) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.[1]
Early life and amateur career
[edit]In 1931, Ferree was born in Pinebluff, North Carolina. He grew up in Winston-Salem and graduated from Richard J. Reynolds High School. Ferree learned the game of golf from his father, Purvis, long-time pro at Winston-Salem's Old Town Golf Club.[2][3]
Ferree played college golf at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.[4] Afterwards, Ferree briefly served in the U.S. Army.
Professional career
[edit]In 1955, Ferree turned professional.[5] He had one PGA Tour win during his regular career years. He was regarded as one of the very best in the game in the tee-to-green ball-striking phase of the game, but putting was always his weakness.[4] He spent most of his thirties and forties as the director of golf at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina.[6]
Ferree was later a club pro and joined the Senior PGA Tour at age fifty in 1981.[1] He was chosen by PGA Commissioner Deane Beman to be the model for the knickers-wearing player on the Senior Tour's logo.[7][8] He shares the Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions record for most victories (9) with two other golfers.
Personal life
[edit]Ferree lived in Hilton Head, South Carolina with his wife, Karen, also a former champion golfer.[6]
Ferree died on March 14, 2023, at the age of 91.[9][10]
Awards and honors
[edit]- In 1991, he became the first golfer inducted into the University of North Carolina's Hall of Fame.[4]
- In 1993, Ferree was named the Senior PGA Tour's Comeback Player of the Year.
Professional wins (19)
[edit]PGA Tour wins (1)
[edit]| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 1, 1958 | Vancouver Open Invitational | 69-61-69-71=270 | −18 | 1 stroke |  Billy Casper
|
Source:[11]
Other wins (12)
[edit]this list is probably incomplete
- 1954 Forsyth County tournament
- 1955 Forsyth County tournament
- 1958 British Columbia Centennial Open
- 1961 Jamaica Open
- 1962 Panama Open
- 1963 Maracaibo Open Invitational
- 1966 Carolinas PGA Championship
- 1967 Georgia PGA Championship
- 1977 Tri-State Open
- 1978 Tri-State PGA Championship
- 1981 Tri-State PGA Championship
- 1983 Tri-State Open
Senior PGA Tour wins (2)
[edit]| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jul 20, 1986 | Greater Grand Rapids Open | 68-66-70=204 | −9 | Playoff |  Gene Littler, Chi-Chi Rodríguez
|
| 2 | May 26, 1991 | Bell Atlantic Classic | 67-69-72=208 | −8 | 2 strokes | Jim Colbert, Lee Trevino
|
Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–3)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1986 | The Greenbrier American Express Championship | Don January
|
Lost to par on first extra hole |
| 2 | 1986 | Greater Grand Rapids Open | Gene Littler, Chi-Chi Rodríguez
|
Won with birdie on first extra hole |
| 3 | 1987 | Seniors International Golf Championship | Al Geiberger
|
Lost to birdie on second extra hole |
| 4 | 1989 | GTE Suncoast Classic |  Bob Charles,  Harold Henning, Dave Hill
|
Charles won with birdie on third extra hole Ferree and Hill eliminated by birdie on first hole |
Source:[11]
Other senior wins (4)
[edit]this list is probably incomplete
- 1997 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with George Bayer)
- 2002 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Miller Barber)
- 2003 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf - Demaret Division (with Miller Barber)
- 2006 Grand Champions team better-ball (with Jack Fleck)
U.S. national team appearances
[edit]- PGA Cup: 1979
Video
[edit]- YouTube – Jim Ferree interview (2014)
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kienzl, Ray (July 3, 1989). "Ferree finds new career begins at 50". Pittsburgh Press. p. D-9.
- ^ "Purvis Ferree senior pro-am set for Lexington". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. May 13, 1989. p. 13.
- ^ Wehrle, Bruce (May 19, 1989). "Ferree honored". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. (photo). p. 11.
- ^ a b c Ulrich, Max. "Super Senior Jim Ferree Reminices at Last Year's Vantage". Triad Golf Today. Archived from the original on November 7, 2007. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ "Jim Ferree bids fair to become big golf name". Tuscaloosa News. Alabama. Associated Press. December 17, 1955. p. 10.
- ^ a b "Ferree Is At Home At Long Cove Club". Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ^ Ferree, Jim (September 2, 1999). "My shot". Sports Illustrated. p. G18.
- ^ "Home Course: Jim Ferree". Discover South Carolina. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ^ Kirschner, Steve (March 14, 2023). "Tar Heel, PGA Golfer Jim Ferree (1931–2023)". goheels.com. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "Jim Ferree, two-time PGA Tour Champions winner, dies at age 91". PGA Tour. March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ a b "Jim Ferree". PGA Tour. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Jim Ferree at the PGA Tour official site
- Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame – Jim Ferree