Jim Ferree
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Purvis Jennings Ferree |
| Nickname | Jim |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | June 10, 1931 |
| Died | March 14, 2023 (aged 91) |
| Career | |
| Sport | Golf |
| College | North Carolina |
| Turned professional | 1955 |
| Former tours | 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 | |
| Senior PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year | 1993 |
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.
Early life and amateur career
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 Club.
Ferree played college golf at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Afterwards, Ferree briefly served in the U.S. Army.
Professional career
In 1955, Ferree turned professional. 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. He spent most of his thirties and forties as the director of golf at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Ferree was later a club pro and joined the Senior PGA Tour at age fifty in 1981. He was chosen by PGA Commissioner Deane Beman to be the model for the knickers-wearing player on the Senior Tour's logo. He shares the Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions record for most victories (9) with two other golfers.
Personal life
Ferree lived in Hilton Head, South Carolina with his wife, Karen, also a former champion golfer.
Ferree died on March 14, 2023, at the age of 91.
Awards and honors
- In 1991, he became the first golfer inducted into the University of North Carolina's Hall of Fame.
- In 1993, Ferree was named the Senior PGA Tour's Comeback Player of the Year.
Professional wins (19)
PGA Tour wins (1)
| 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:
Other wins (12)
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)
| 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:
Other senior wins (4)
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
- PGA Cup: 1979
Video
- YouTube – Jim Ferree interview (2014)
References
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 3 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.
- 1 2 "Ferree Is At Home At Long Cove Club". USGA. Archived from the original on March 30, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
- ↑ Ferree, Jim (September 27, 1999). "My Shot: My life as a logo on the Senior tour requires that I do only one thing: dress for the part Senior PGA Tour". Sports Illustrated. p. G18. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016.
- ↑ "Home Course: Jim Ferree". Discover South Carolina. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. 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.
- 1 2 "Jim Ferree". PGA Tour. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
External links
- Jim Ferree at the PGA Tour official site
- Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame – Jim Ferree