Mike Sullivan (golfer)

Mike Sullivan
Personal information
Full name	Michael James Sullivan
Born	January 1, 1955 Gary, Indiana
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
Nationality	United States
Residence	Ocala, Florida
Career
College	University of Florida
Turned professional	1975
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	4
Highest ranking	83 (August 13, 1989)[1]
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	3
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament	T35: 1981
PGA Championship	T12: 1989
U.S. Open	T25: 1984
The Open Championship	T14: 1983

Michael James Sullivan (born January 1, 1955) is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour.

Sullivan was born in Gary, Indiana. He attended Forest High School in Ocala, Florida, where he played for the Forest Wildcats high school golf team.

He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and played for coach Buster Bishop's Florida Gators men's golf team in 1974. While attending Florida, Sullivan was a roommate of fellow future PGA Tour player Andy Bean. He turned professional in 1975 and joined the PGA Tour in 1976.

Sullivan won three PGA Tour events during his career. His first win came at the 1980 Southern Open which he calls the biggest thrill of his career due to being paired with golf legend Arnold Palmer in the third round. He had more than forty top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events during his career. Sullivan qualified for and played in every major championship at least twice. His best finish in a major championship was T12 at the 1989 PGA Championship.^[2]

Sullivan also had a runner-up finish on the European Tour, finishing 2nd place in the 1983 English Open. He lost to Hugh Baiocchi in a playoff.

Sullivan played some events on the Nationwide Tour in his 40s. His best finish in a Nationwide Tour event was a second-place tie in the 1998 NIKE Dominion Open.

Sullivan played on the Champions Tour in 2005 and 2006. His best finish was T9 at the 2005 Blue Angels Classic.

Sullivan has been plagued by back trouble throughout his career and has not played a professional event since 2006. He credits fellow golfer Don Pooley for mentoring him and enhancing his Christian faith. He lives in Ocala, Florida.

Professional wins (4)

PGA Tour wins (3)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up
1	Oct 5, 1980	Southern Open	–11 (68-63-69-69=269)	5 strokes	Dave Eichelberger, Johnny Miller
2	Apr 2, 1989	Independent Insurance Agent Open	–8 (76-71-68-65=280)	1 stroke	Craig Stadler
3	Sep 18, 1994	B.C. Open	–18 (65-67-68-66=266)	4 strokes	Jeff Sluman

PGA Tour playoff record (0–4)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1978	Buick-Goodwrench Open	Jack Newton	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
2	1981	Southern Open	J. C. Snead	Lost to par on second extra hole
3	1986	Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Classic	Raymond Floyd, Lon Hinkle	Lost to par on first extra hole
4	1994	Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic	Brian Henninger	Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (1)

• 1984 Shootout at Jeremy Ranch (with Don January)

Playoff record

European Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponents	Result
1	1983	State Express English Classic	Hugh Baiocchi, Eamonn Darcy	Baiocchi won with birdie on first extra hole

Results in major championships

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

Personal life

He called for professional basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to be shot, after he refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance.^[3]

See also

• 1985 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
• 1991 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
• Florida Gators
• List of Florida Gators men's golfers on the PGA Tour

References

External links

• Mike Sullivan at the PGA Tour official site
• Mike Sullivan at the Official World Golf Ranking official site