Jim Ferree, a PGA TOUR Champions competitor who won two events after turning 50 and the Vancouver Open in 1958, passed away on March 14 at the age of 91. He was well renowned for his golf skills as well as his unique golfing outfit, which included underwear and a flat hat.
On June 10, 1931, Ferree was born in Pinebluff, North Carolina. He learned the game from his father Purvis, a professional golfer who occasionally competed on the PGA TOUR. Ferree earned his degree from the University of North Carolina and was recognized as one of the top players of his day from the tee to the green, however putting occasionally presented difficulties.
Ferree’s sole PGA TOUR triumph occurred in Western Canada, where he upset Billy Casper despite having a four-shot lead heading into the final round. As one of the few older golfers still sporting panties on the then-new tour, Ferree joined the PGA TOUR Champions in 1981.
Ferree became a living logo when PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman selected Ferree to serve as the inspiration for the player sporting underwear on the Tour’s emblem.
He participated in 407 official competitions and won two PGA TOUR Champions events—the 1986 Greater Grand Rapids Open and the 1991 Bell Atlantic Classic—while also placing second 12 times.
Even after his formal retirement, he kept playing golf, and in 2003 he and Miller Barber took home the Demaret Division victory at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.
Ferree was the head professional at Westmoreland Golf Club in Western Pennsylvania in addition to his golfing accomplishments, and he also competed on the PGA TOUR Champions at the time.
In 1991, he became the first golfer to be admitted to the University of North Carolina’s Hall of Fame. There, he was honored for his accomplishments as the 1953 Southern Conference champion and a member of the team that competed in the conference’s 75th-anniversary tournament alongside Arnold Palmer, Mike Hulbert, Brad Faxon, and E. Harvie Ward, among other golf greats.
Jim Ferree Age
Jim Ferree age 91 years.
Jim Ferree Height
His height is unknown
Jim Ferree Weight
He weighs 159 pounds.
Jim Ferree Family
His wife Karen, son Randy, and granddaughter Jennings remain as his only heirs. He left behind a legacy as a talented golfer and a golf course-style icon.
Jim Ferree Golf Swing
Jim Ferree Professional Wins
Jim Ferree’s professional wins are 19.
| Number of wins by tour | |
|---|---|
| PGA Tour | 1 |
| PGA Tour Champions | 2 |
| Other | 12 (regular) 4 (senior) |
Jim Ferree Health and Death
Ferree died on March 14, 2023. No health complications were reported. However, Ferree played a significant role in the founding of the PGA TOUR Champions and won the Comeback Player of the Year award in 1993 after beating prostate cancer.