Jim Ferree

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]

Jim Ferree
Personal information
Full name	Purvis Jennings Ferree
Nickname	Jim
Born	(1931-06-10)June 10, 1931 Pinebluff, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	March 14, 2023(2023-03-14) (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
Senior PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year 1993

Born in Pinebluff, North Carolina, Ferree grew up in Winston-Salem and graduated from Richard J. Reynolds High School. He 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] Following service in the U.S. Army, he turned professional in late 1955.^[5]

Ferree 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. He was the Senior PGA Tour's Comeback Player of the Year in 1993.

In 1991, he became the first golfer inducted into the University of North Carolina's Hall of Fame.^[4] He 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]

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

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

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)