Mike Sullivan (golfer)

Mike Sullivan
Mike Sullivan
Personal information
Full name	Michael James Sullivan
Born	January 1, 1955 (age 70); Gary, Indiana
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
Sporting 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)
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

Last updated July 19, 2025

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

Early life

In 1955, Sullivan was born in Gary, Indiana. He attended Forest High School in Ocala, Florida. Sullivan played for the Forest Wildcats high school golf team.

Amateur career

In the early 1970s, Sullivan accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. He 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.

Professional career

In 1975, Sullivan turned professional. He joined the PGA Tour in the following year after his success at Fall 1976 PGA Tour Qualifying School.

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 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.

Personal life

In 1996, Sullivan called for professional basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to be shot after he refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance.^[3]

Sullivan 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	Floyd won with par on first extra hole
4	1994	Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic	Brian Henninger	Lost to birdie on first extra hole

Other wins (1)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runners-up
1	Aug 26, 1984	Shootout at Jeremy Ranch (with Don January)	−38 (62-63-61-64=250)	4 strokes	Miller Barber and Gil Morgan, Al Besselink and Donnie Hammond

Playoff record

European Tour playoff record (0–1)

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

Results in major championships

Tournament	1978	1979
Masters Tournament
U.S. Open
The Open Championship
PGA Championship	34

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1986	1987	1989
Masters Tournament		T35						T46
U.S. Open		CUT		T34	T25
The Open Championship				T14	CUT
PGA Championship	T30	T56	CUT	CUT	T65	T53	T56	T12

Tournament	1990	1994	1995
Masters Tournament			CUT
U.S. Open		CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship	CUT		T63

Did not play

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

References

↑ "Week 32 1989 Ending 13 Aug 1989" (pdf). OWGR . Retrieved October 29, 2019.
↑ "Golf Major Championships".
↑ "Why is the national anthem still a part of sports events?".

External links

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

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[w198932-1] "Week 32 1989 Ending 13 Aug 1989" (pdf). OWGR . Retrieved October 29, 2019.

[2] "Golf Major Championships".

[3] "Why is the national anthem still a part of sports events?".

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