Macpherson was born in Melbourne, Australia. He won the Dunes Medal in 2008, an amateur event in Australia, and set two course records in the process, shooting a 64 and then bettering it with a 63. He enrolled at the University of Georgia in 2009 and was named Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year and was also named to the second All-SEC team. He also won the Australian Amateur Stroke Play and the New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play in 2009. In 2010, he represented his country for the Eisenhower Trophy, the premier world amateur team golf championship. Macpherson won The Amateur Championship in 2011. This victory earned him a spot in the 2011 Open Championship and the 2012 Masters Tournament. He missed the cut at the Open by a stroke.
