James Mason

PGA Classification: LM
PGA Section: Georgia
PGA Membership: 1985

PGA Life Member. Finished T-38th in the 2017 Senior PGA Professional Championship; was runner-up in 2014 and was T-12 in 2013. His family owned Sky Valley Resort in North Georgia from 1975-91. Started wearing knickers in the mid-1980s after he and his wife visited the Teabury Knicker Company in California and he purchased several pairs. Once roomed with Fuzzy Zoeller, when they were starting their professional careers. Played several PGA Tour events in 1973 and '74, but never made the cut in any tournament. Previously the assistant professional at Druid Hills Country Club in Atlanta and the teaching professional at the Orchard Country Club in Clarksville, Georgia. Became just the eighth open qualifier in PGA Tour Champions history to win a tournament, when he triumphed at the NFL Golf Classic in 2002. Qualified for the event on Tuesday when he posted a 67. Competed in eight PGA Professional Championships, with a career-best finish T-13 in 1997. Competed in 2001 U.S. Senior Open. Tried to get his card in the 2001 Champions Tour qualifying tournament but finished T-44th.
Has played a total of 199 PGA Tour Champions events with 16 top-ten finishes. After winning in 2002 he played full time through 2010 with earnings of $3,006,200
Competed in 1997 PGA Championship, 1973 U.S. Amateur, five BellSouth Classics and five Buick Southern Open. Named 1997, '98 and 2000 Georgia PGA Section Player of the Year.

Was conditionally exempt for 2010 after securing the 50th position on the 2009 money list with a T-18th at the AT&T Championship in San Antonio. The check for $23,247 vaulted him over Scott Simpson by just $579.
2011 Notes: Made just seven Champions Tour appearances and did not play in an event until he open qualified for the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn. Shot 62 on the Jackson Course at Rock Barn in the open qualifier and nearly parlayed that effort into a victory in the event. After shooting rounds of 65-65 on the weekend to tie Mark Wiebe at the end of regulation, lost to Wiebe on the third playoff hole when he three-putted from 25 feet for a bogey, missing a five-foot par effort to extend the overtime session. His performance in North Carolina was his best in a Champions Tour event since winning on the circuit in 2002.
2012 Notes: Played in seven events, only one top-50 finish, T-13th at Insperity Championship. Went to Champions Tour Q-School but finished T-57th leaving him no status for 2013.
2013 Notes: Played in four events, T52nd Greater Gwinnett Championship, missed cut Senior PGA Championship, T28th Boeing Classic, and T58th Montreal Championship. Went to Champions Tour Q-School but finished T-50th leaving him no status for 2014.
In 2014, finished T-48th at Senior PGA Championship, missed cut at U.S. Senior Open and T-29th at Quebec Championship.
In 2015 missed cut at Senior PGA Championship. Also went to Champions Tour Q-School and finished 67th.
In 2016 missed cut at the Senior PGA Championship and was T-68th at the SAS Championship. Didn't play in 2017, in 2018 missed the cut at the Senior PGA Championship and T-70th at the SAS Championship.