Introduction
John Morgan (3 September 1943 – 23 June 2006) was an English professional golfer who competed on the European Tour in the 1970s and 80s.
Morgan was born in Oxford. For much of his career, he was also the club professional at Royal Liverpool, one of only a few touring professionals still to maintain a club role at that time. He seriously competed at the 1974 Open Championship. He was tied for the lead with the eventual champion Gary Player after the first round and remained in the top ten after rounds 2 and 3. He ultimately finished T-13. He won one tournament on the European Tour, the 1986 Jersey Open, when he overcame Peter Fowler in a play-off. During the 1970s and 1980s he also competed in Africa on the Safari Circuit, where he won four times, including the Nigerian Open and the Ivory Coast Open. Was the Safari Circuit Order of Merit winner in 1979.
After turning 50, Morgan played on the European Seniors Tour and the Champions Tour. He won the John Jacobs Trophy (European Seniors Order of Merit) in 1994, and was runner up in 1995 and 1996. He won eight European Seniors Tour tournaments including the PGA Seniors Championship twice. He had 59 top-10 finishes, of which 21 were top-3 and 100 top-20 finishes on the European Senior Tour.
Morgan died of a brain tumour at the age of 62. He left behind a wife and four children.
Professional wins (15)
European Tour wins (1)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 Jun 1986 | Jersey Open | −13 (65-68-71-71=275) | Playoff | Peter Fowler |
European Tour playoff record (1–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1986 | Jersey Open | Peter Fowler | Won with par on first extra hole |
Safari Circuit wins (3)
- 1979 Nigerian Open, Lusaka Open
- 1982 Ivory Coast Open
Other wins (2)
- 1986 Sierra Leone Open
- 1992 Cyprus Open
European Seniors Tour wins (8)
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 Jun 1994 | Northern Electric Seniors | +3 (74-71-74=219) | Playoff | Bernard Hunt |
| 2 | 29 Jul 1994 | Lawrence Batley Seniors | −8 (67-65-70=202) | 4 strokes | José Maria Roca |
| 3 | 7 Aug 1994 | Forte PGA Seniors Championship | −7 (68-68-67=203) | 2 strokes | David Creamer |
| 4 | 13 Aug 1995 | Forte PGA Seniors Championship (2) | −6 (67-70-67=204) | Playoff | Antonio Garrido |
| 5 | 8 Sep 1996 | Scottish Seniors Open | −7 (71-68-70=209) | 4 strokes | Tommy Horton |
| 6 | 6 Oct 1996 | Motor City Seniors Classic | −3 (72-69-72=213) | 2 strokes | Bill Hardwick, Tommy Horton, Randall Vines |
| 7 | 16 Aug 1998 | West of Ireland Seniors Championship | −8 (67-66-72=205) | 1 stroke | Denis O'Sullivan |
| 8 | 16 May 1999 | AIB Irish Seniors Open | −7 (70-67-72=209) | 1 stroke | Brian Barnes, Noel Ratcliffe |
European Seniors Tour playoff record (2–0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1994 | Northern Electric Seniors | Bernard Hunt | Won with birdie on sixth extra hole |
| 2 | 1995 | Forte PGA Seniors Championship | Antonio Garrido | Won with par on first extra hole |
Other senior wins (1)
- 2004 New Zealand Seniors PGA Championship
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | CUT | CUT | T13 | CUT | T36 | T29 | CUT | CUT |
| Tournament | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Open Championship | T31 | CUT | CUT |
Note: Morgan only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1975 Open Championship)
"T" = tied
Team appearances
- PGA Cup/Diamondhead Cup: 1973, 1979 (winners), 1981 (tie)
- Praia d'El Rey European Cup: 1997 (winners), 1999