Michael Clayton (golfer)

Michael Andrew Clayton (born 30 May 1957) is an Australian professional golfer. He played on the PGA Tour of Australasia from 1981 until he turned 50 in 2007. He found success there, winning seven times between 1982 and 1994.

Michael Clayton
Personal information
Full nameMichael Andrew Clayton
Born (1957-05-30) 30 May 1957
Melbourne, Australia
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Nationality Australia
ResidenceMelbourne, Australia
Career
Turned professional1981
Current tour(s)European Seniors Tour
Former tour(s)European Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia
Professional wins8
Highest ranking91 (29 January 1995)[1]
Number of wins by tour
European Tour1
PGA Tour of Australasia6
Other1
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentDNP
PGA ChampionshipDNP
U.S. OpenDNP
The Open ChampionshipT46: 1986

Clayton was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He had a very successful amateur career which included the 1978 Australian Amateur, and the Victorian Amateur in 1977 and 1981. He turned professional in 1981, the same year he joined the Australian Tour. He won his first tour event one year later and would win six more times between then and 1994.

Clayton played on the European Tour from 1982 to 2000, winning the 1984 Timex Open. He also won the 1984 Kolon Korean Open. His best finish on the Australian Order of Merit was 4th in 1994. He would never lose his playing status until he became eligible for the Australian Senior's Tour.

He is most known from his "Infamous Putt" which resulted in a one stroke penalty. As the putt was traveling towards the hole, Clayton twirled his putter in the air, but it slipped. He dove toward the putter and knocked it into the ball. The ball then hit Clayton as he was lying on the green.[2]

Clayton also plays on the European Seniors Tour. He was runner-up in the 2009 Jersey Seniors Classic, losing at the third playoff hole to Delroy Cambridge.

Clayton is now a golf course architect, partnering with 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy to create the firm Ogilvy Clayton Cocking Mead Golf Course Design. Clayton designed or was involved in the design of Barnbougle Dunes in Bridport, Tasmania and the Ranfurlie course at Amstel Golf Club.

Amateur wins (6)

Professional wins (8)

European Tour wins (1)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runners-up
1 17 Jun 1984 Timex Open −16 (67-65-61-67=260) 3 strokes Peter Teravainen, Sam Torrance

European Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 1990 Wang Four Stars Rodger Davis, Bill Malley,
Mark McNulty		 Davis won with birdie on seventh extra hole
Malley and McNulty eliminated by par on first hole

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (6)
No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
1 14 Feb 1982 Victorian Open −7 (67-72-74-68=281) 3 strokes Bob Shearer
2 5 Feb 1984 Tasmanian Open −13 (67-71-67-70=275) 2 strokes John Clifford, Wayne Grady
3 5 Feb 1989 Victorian Open (2) −3 (69-67-75-74=285) 2 strokes Ossie Moore
4 9 Feb 1992 Mercedes-Benz Australian Match Play Championship 4 & 3 Peter McWhinney
5 30 Jan 1994 Heineken Classic −9 (67-71-71-70=279) 3 strokes Wayne Smith
6 18 Dec 1994 Schweppes Coolum Classic −11 (69-73-66-69=277) 4 strokes Andre Stolz

Asia Golf Circuit wins (1)

Playoff record

European Senior Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2009 Jersey Seniors Classic Delroy Cambridge Lost to par on third extra hole

Results in major championships
Tournament 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
The Open Championship CUT CUT T46 CUT T57 T59 CUT CUT CUT

Note: Clayton only played in The Open Championship.

  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied

Team appearances

References
  1. "Week 4 1995 Ending 29 Jan 1995" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  2. Video of the putt on YouTube
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