# Mike Clayton (golfer)

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. | 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)

| 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)

| 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 | 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

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

| 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.
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