Michael Andrew Clayton (born 30 May 1957) is an Australian professional golfer, golf course architect and commentator on the game. He won the 1984 Timex Open on the European Tour and won six times on the PGA Tour of Australasia between 1982 and 1994.
Amateur career 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.
Professional career Clayton 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 in Biarritz. He also won the 1984 Maekyung 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.
Clayton was famously brought to attention for his "Infamous Putt", of which resulted in a one stroke penalty. As his putt was traveling towards the hole, Clayton twirled his putter in the air, but it slipped from his hands - he then dived towards the putter to catch it and in doing so, moved the ball with the putter, after which the ball hit him as he lay on the green.
Clayton played 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, having partnered with Geoff Ogilvy until 2019. In 2020 Clayton formed the firm Clayton, DeVries & Pont with architects Mike DeVries and Frank Pont.
Clayton designed Barnbougle Dunes in Bridport, Tasmania with Tom Doak and the Ranfurlie course at Amstel Golf Club, along with consultancy work at a number of Australian golf courses.
Clayton also regularly appears on golfing podcasts to discuss the state of the game and golf course architecture.
Amateur wins 1977 Victorian Amateur Championship 1978 Australian Amateur, Korean Amateur 1981 Victorian Amateur Championship, Riversdale Cup, Dutch Amateur
Professional wins (8) European Tour wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up117 Jun 1984Timex Open−16 (67-65-61-67=260)3 strokes Peter Teravainen, Sam Torrance
European Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult11990Wang Four Stars Rodger Davis, Bill Malley, Mark McNultyDavis won with birdie on seventh extra holeMalley and McNulty eliminated by par on first hole
Asia Golf Circuit wins (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunners-up115 Apr 1984Maekyung Open−5 (75-66-71-71=283)1 stroke John Jacobs, Lu Hsi-chuen
PGA Tour of Australasia wins (6) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up114 Feb 1982Victorian Open−7 (67-72-74-68=281)3 strokes Bob Shearer25 Feb 1984Tasmanian Open−13 (67-71-67-70=275)2 strokes John Clifford, Wayne Grady35 Feb 1989Victorian Open (2)−3 (69-67-75-74=285)2 strokes Ossie Moore49 Feb 1992Mercedes-Benz Australian Match Play Championship4 and 3 Peter McWhinney530 Jan 1994Heineken Classic−9 (67-71-71-70=279)3 strokes Wayne Smith618 Dec 1994Schweppes Coolum Classic−11 (69-73-66-69=277)4 strokes Andre Stolz
PGA of Australia Legends Tour wins (2) note: this list is probably incomplete 2013 Craigieburn Legends Pro-Am (with Tim Elliot), Inside Golf Legends Pro-Am at the Dunes Source:
Playoff record European Senior Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12009Jersey Seniors Classic Delroy CambridgeLost to par on third extra hole
Results in major championships Tournament198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995The Open ChampionshipCUTCUTT46CUTT57T59CUTCUTCUT Note: Clayton only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" = tied
Team appearances Amateur Australian Men's Interstate Teams Matches (representing Victoria): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980
Professional World Cup (representing Australia): 1982, 1994 Hennessy Cognac Cup (representing the Rest of the World): 1984 Alfred Dunhill Challenge (representing Australasia): 1995
References
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