Mike Ferguson (born 26 January 1952) is an Australian professional golfer. Ferguson was one of Australia's top golfers during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1977 he won the Western Australian Open for his breakthrough victory. Two years later he won back-to-back events, the Illawarra Open and Gold Coast Classic. In 1981, "his most successful year," he won two state PGA championships, the New South Wales PGA Championship and the Queensland PGA Championship. Shortly thereafter, citing poor discipline, his game declined; Ferguson failed to make the PGA Tour and he would not win another official regular event. As a senior, however, Ferguson would have some success, winning five significant events in the Australasian region, including the Australian Seniors PGA Championship twice.
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Early life
Ferguson is from Brisbane, Australia. As a youth, Ferguson focused mainly on swimming, boxing, and rugby. After an injury, however, he began to focus on golf. He turned pro in 1973.
Professional career
One of the earliest highlights of his professional career was at the October 1973 North Coast Open pro-am. He finished joint runner-up, one behind American Jerry Stolhand. In November 1974, he was in joint third place after the first round of the City of Auckland Classic, only behind Stewart Ginn and Tom Kite, tied with, among others, Hubert Green.
In the mid-1970s Ferguson started playing on the international scene. He would play on foreign circuits for the remainder of his career. As of February 1975, he was playing events on the Asia Golf Circuit. In 1975 Ferguson also started playing some events on the European Tour. Ferguson also played in Japan during this stage of his career.
Ferguson would have much success in April 1977 in Western Australia. In early April he played in the Western Australia PGA Championship held at Sun City Country Club. During the final day, he "appeared to lay the foundation for a win" after the opening two holes; he was the only player among the leaders not to drop a shot. He then birdied the 5th to improve his chances. However, he double-bogeyed the 7th and then bogeyed the par-3 8th. He would not be in contention on the back nine. Ferguson finished in solo 5th, four behind champion Kel Nagle. Two weeks later he played the Western Australian Open. Ferguson started slowly, failing to break par the first two rounds. He got a new putter before the third round which changed his attitude. He shot a 67 (−5) on Saturday to put him in contention, two out of the lead jointly held by Chris Tickner, Vaughan Somers, and Barry Burgess. On Sunday, Ferguson birdied Mount Lawley's 2nd and 3rd holes to quickly tie the lead. The overnight leaders struggled and Ferguson held a two stroke lead at the turn. Ferguson, however, bogeyed the 10th to fall back to field. The remainder of the tournament would be "a tense affair." Ferguson parred the next three holes. He birdied the 14th but bogeyed the 15th. At the 16th, he drove the par-4 creating an easy birdie and clinching the win. He shot his second straight 67 (−5) to finish at 281 (−7). He defeated joint runner-ups Burgess and Somers by three and Tickner by four. It was Ferguson's first win. "I didn't think I was ever going to break through," he said immediately after the round.
Much later in the year Ferguson recorded two top-3 finishes. During the final round of the Queensland Open, Ferguson led "a charge" against leader Hal Underwood with eagles on the 9th and 11th. However, he "faltered on the back nine" and finished in a tie for third, two back of Underwood. A month and a half later, in November, he seriously competed at the Australian PGA Championship. During the second round, he played erratically, hitting three tee shots into the woods and bogeying the par-5 ninth hole. However, good recovery shots and an excellent short game helped him shoot a 67 (−5) to take the lead at 138 (−6). He did not play particularly well on the weekend but finished with an eagle and a birdie on the 70th and 72nd holes, respectively, to achieve solo second. Around this time he was regarded as "one of the talented young lions of Australian golf." He intended to try out for the PGA Tour later in the year at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.
Senior career
In January 2002 he turned 50. The previous year he had already earned with European Senior Tour's card at Qualifying School, finishing in 11th place. In 2002 he recorded two top-tens on the European Senior Tour. Later in the year he won the 2002 Australian PGA Seniors Championship. In 2003 he again toured in Europe but only played in four events. In 2003 he also won the Malaysian Seniors Open. In 2004 he returned to Europe and played much more, recording two top-tens in 20 events. Later in 2004 he again played excellently at the Australian Seniors PGA Championship. The event was played at Club Pelican, his home club. Ferguson was eight shots behind leader Brian Jones entering the final round. However, he finished solidly with a 68 (−4), tying Jones for the round of the tournament. Jones, meanwhile, collapsed down the stretch, bogeying the 16th and the 17th and then triple-bogeying the 18th. Both men finished at 291 (+3). They entered a sudden-death playoff. Jones hit his drive into a fairway bunker. Ferguson "drove straight" in the middle of the fairway. His approach landed two-metres from the hole to "set up a comfortable par." Jones, meanwhile, made bogey to lose. It was Ferguson's second win in the event.
Later in the year he intended to try to join the PGA Senior Tour in the United States. At Senior Q-School Ferguson finished in a tie for 13th at 417 (−15). He played in five events during the 2005 season but did not record any high finishes.
In 2006 he played the New Zealand Senior PGA Championship. He entered the final round five shots behind leader Richard Beer. Playing against 40-60kmh winds, Ferguson shot a "brilliant" 68 to win the tournament by 5 shots. Several observers stated it was the best round they had ever seen at the Wairaki Golf Course. Ferguson stated after the round, "It's probably as good a round as I have ever played." He was one of only three players to break 80. The following year he largely stopped playing on the European Senior Tour.
In 2008 he played at the Greater Building Society Australian Masters Invitational. The event was held at Emerald Lakes Golf Club in Queensland. In the final round Ferguson birdied four of the first six holes to stay competitive with first round leader Stuart Reese who scored similarly. On the back nine Ferguson pulled away as Reese made a number of bogeys. He finished with a 71 (−1) to defeat Resse and Ian Baker-Finch by two. With the victory, Ferguson won $A30,000 and a golf cart worth $A10,000. It was his first win in two year. “This is totally unexpected," he said afterwards.
Personal life
Ferguson has lived in Queensland for most of his life. In 1952 he was born in Brisbane. During his career he was associated with Helensvale Golf Club in Helensvale, Queensland and Club Pelican in Pelican Waters, Queensland. Late in life he resided in Brisbane.
Ferguson has a sister named Tracey. She was married to Payne Stewart. Tracey met Stewart in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was there to see Ferguson play in a golf tournament.
Ferguson has two daughters, Sarah and Micaela.
Professional wins (17)
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (3)
PGA Tour of Australasia playoff record (1–0)
Other regular wins (7)
1977 Western Australian Open
1978 Papua New Guinea Open, Mount Isa tournament
1980 Rolex Open (Switzerland)
1981 Queensland PGA Championship, Mount Isa tournament
1985 Acom Doubles (with Brian Jones)
PGA of Australia Legends Tour wins (5)
note: this list is probably incomplete
2002 Australian PGA Seniors Championship
2004 Australian Seniors PGA Championship
2008 Greater Building Society Australian Masters Invitational
2013 Tasmanian Senior Open, SA PGA Senior Foursomes Championship (with Terry Price)
Other senior wins (2)
2003 Malaysian Senior Open
2006 New Zealand Senior PGA Championship
Results in major championships
CUT = missed the halfway cut (3rd round cut in 1980 and 1983 Open Championships)
"T" = Tied
Note: Ferguson only played in The Open Championship.
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