Jim Ferree

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Jim Ferree
Personal information
Full namePurvis Jennings Ferree
NicknameJim
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DiedScript error: No such module "person date".
Sporting nationalityScript error: No such module "flag".
ResidenceHilton Head, South Carolina, U.S.
Career
CollegeNorth Carolina
Turned professional1955
Former tourTemplate:Pluralize from textPGA Tour
Senior PGA Tour
Professional wins19
Highest rankingTemplate:Infobox golfer/highest ranking
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour1
PGA Tour Champions2
Other12 (regular)
4 (senior)
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipT28: 1964
U.S. OpenT17: 1957
The Open ChampionshipDNP
Achievements and awards
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Senior PGA Tour
Comeback Player of the Year
1993

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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

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.[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

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

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

  • 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)

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 Template:Flagicon Billy Casper

Source:[11]

Other wins (12)

this list is probably incomplete

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 Template:Flagicon Gene Littler, Template:Flagicon Chi-Chi Rodríguez
2 May 26, 1991 Bell Atlantic Classic 67-69-72=208 −8 2 strokes Template:Flagicon Jim Colbert, Template:Flagicon Lee Trevino

Senior PGA Tour playoff record (1–3)

No. Year Tournament Opponent(s) Result
1 1986 The Greenbrier American Express Championship Template:Flagicon Don January Lost to par on first extra hole
2 1986 Greater Grand Rapids Open Template:Flagicon Gene Littler, Template:Flagicon Chi-Chi Rodríguez Won with birdie on first extra hole
3 1987 Seniors International Golf Championship Template:Flagicon Al Geiberger Lost to birdie on second extra hole
4 1989 GTE Suncoast Classic Template:Flagicon Bob Charles, Template:Flagicon Harold Henning,
Template:Flagicon 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)

this list is probably incomplete

U.S. national team appearances

Video

  • YouTube – Jim Ferree interview (2014)

References

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  1. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kienzl, Ray (July 3, 1989). "Ferree finds new career begins at 50". Pittsburgh Press. p. D-9.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Purvis Ferree senior pro-am set for Lexington". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. May 13, 1989. p. 13.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wehrle, Bruce (May 19, 1989). "Ferree honored". The Dispatch. Lexington, North Carolina. (photo). p. 11.
  4. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jim Ferree bids fair to become big golf name". Tuscaloosa News. Alabama. Associated Press. December 17, 1955. p. 10.
  6. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Ferree Is At Home At Long Cove Club". USGA. Archived from the original on March 30, 2004. Retrieved November 2, 2007.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.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.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Home Course: Jim Ferree". Discover South Carolina. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kirschner, Steve (March 14, 2023). "Tar Heel, PGA Golfer Jim Ferree (1931–2023)". goheels.com. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jim Ferree, two-time PGA Tour Champions winner, dies at age 91". PGA Tour. March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Jim Ferree". PGA Tour. Retrieved August 15, 2025.