Wayne turned professional at age 16, then regained his amateur status. He then turned professional for good at age 21. He won the Westlakes Classic six months after turning pro while having only $9 in his pocket. It would be a frustrating 17 second place finishes before Wayne would again taste victory at the 1984 German Open. Buoyed by a win and a three year exemption in Europe he went to America. After earning his playing rights in the torturous U.S. Players School at the end of 84 Wayne finished 41st on the 1985 money list. Wayne lost his card in the States in 86 but regained it again in 87 and learned plenty from the experience. He defeated Greg Norman in a 4 hole playoff for the 88 Aust. PGA Championship and went back to the States the following year to claim his first victory on American soil, the Westchester Classic, also in a playoff.

Three weeks later with no real aim but carrying hot form he almost won the biggest Championship of them all the British Open. After leading from lunchtime on Friday he wasn’t caught until a late bogey on the long par 3 17th put him back into a tie with the fast finishing Greg Norman and eventual winner of the playoff. Mark Calchaveccia. Determined not to let the loss derail his career Wayne went on to become one of only 8 Australians to win a professional major tournament, the 1990 US PGA Championship.
Wayne plays a very limited schedule now and lives on the Gold Coast with his family and looks after his varying business which includes a growing Golf Design Company, Wizard Home Loans licence on the Gold Coast, commentary and corporate golf days.