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.

Mike Clayton
Personal information
Full nameMichael Andrew Clayton
Born (1957-05-30) 30 May 1957 (age 67)
Melbourne, Australia
Height1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Sporting nationality Australia
ResidenceMelbourne, Australia
Career
Turned professional1981
Former tour(s)European Tour
Asia Golf Circuit
PGA Tour of Australasia
European Senior Tour
Professional wins8
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

Amateur career

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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

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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.[1] 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.[2]

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

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Professional wins (8)

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European Tour wins (1)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin 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. Year Tournament Opponents Result
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

Asia Golf Circuit wins (1)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory
Runners-up
1 15 Apr 1984 Maekyung Open −5 (75-66-71-71=283) 1 stroke   John Jacobs,   Lu Hsi-chuen

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (6)

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No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin 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 and 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

Playoff record

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European Senior Tour playoff record (0–1)

No. Year Tournament Opponent Result
1 2009 Jersey Seniors Classic   Delroy Cambridge Lost to par on third extra hole

Results in major championships

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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

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Amateur

Professional

References

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  1. ^ "Meanwhile a first for Clayton". Sydney Morning Herald. 19 June 1984. p. 30.
  2. ^ Video of the putt on YouTube
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