Who's who: Jack Burke Jr

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  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
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  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Jack Burke Jr

  • Name:

    John Joseph "Jack" Burke Jr.
  • Also known as:

    Jackie
  • Country:

    USA
  • Born:

    Jan 29, 1923 in Fort Worth, Texas.
  • Original/Home Club:

    River Oaks, Houston
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer; golf course designer; co-founder of Champions GC, Houston.
  • Turned Pro:

    1941

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (2): The Masters (1956); US PGA Championship (1956). PGA Tour wins (17). Ryder Cup player (1951, 1953, 1955, 1957); Ryder Cup captain (1957, 1973). USPGA Tour Player of the Year (1956). Vardon Trophy (1952). Inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.

Did you know?

Burke won four US Tour events in a row in 1952, one of only four players to achieve this feat (Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods being the other three). Together with Jimmy Demaret they founded the Champions Golf Club in their hometown of Houston. The Champions hosted the Ryder Cup in 1967; the US Open in 1969.

Top tournaments won by Jack Burke Jr

1963
America
276 (-8)
$9,000
Lucky Lager

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Score

276 (-8)

Prize money

$9,000

Title sponsor

Lucky Lager

Played as the Lucky International Open (Jan 24-27). Second-placed Don January (USA) finished 3 shots behind 39-year-old Jack Burke Jr (USA), who recorded the last of his 16 PGA Tour wins. [Harding Park GC, San Francisco, Calif. Now known as TPC Harding Park].

1961
America
Warwick Hills
284 (-4)
$9,000
Buick

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Warwick Hills

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

$9,000

Title sponsor

Buick

Played as the Buick Open Invitational (Jun 29-Jul 3). Jack Burke Jr (USA) beat Billy Casper (USA) and Johnny Pott (USA) in an 18-hole Monday playoff (Burke 71, Casper 74, Pott 74). [Warwick Hills G&CC, Grand Blanc, Michigan].

1959
America
277 (-11)
$4,300
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$4,300

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Classic (April 16-20). Jack Burke Jr (USA) beat Julius Boros (USA) in an 18-hole Monday playoff (Burke 64, Boros 69). [Memorial Park GC, Houston, TX].

1958
America
Wethersfield CC
268 (-16)
$3,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Wethersfield CC

Score

268 (-16)

Prize money

$3,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Insurance City Open (July 10-13). Second-placed Dow Finsterwald (USA) and Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 3 shots behind Jack Burke Jr (USA). [Wethersfield CC, nr Hartford, CT].

1956
Awards
x
n/a
PGA of America

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Burke (USA) won the PGA of America Player of the Year Award (based on points allocated for PGA Tour wins, money-list position and scoring average).

1956
Majors
289 (+1)
$6,000
x

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Score

289 (+1)

Prize money

$6,000

Title sponsor

x

The Masters Tournament (20th) (April 5-8). Second-placed Ken Venturi (USA) finished 1 shot behind Jack "Jackie" Burke Jr (USA). In strong winds Burke equalled the then Masters highest winning total of 289 (also shot in 1954 by Sam Snead). [Augusta National GC, Augusta, GA].

1956
Majors
Blue Hill CC, MA
3 & 2
$5,000
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Blue Hill CC, MA

Score

3 & 2

Prize money

$5,000

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (38th) (July 20-24). John "Jackie" Burke Jr (USA) beat Ted Kroll (USA) 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final, to win his second major championship of 1956. [Blue Hill CC, Canton, nr Boston, MA].

1952
America
Miami Springs G&CC
273 (-7)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Miami Springs G&CC

Score

273 (-7)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Miami Open (Dec 11-14). Jack Burke Jr (USA) beat Dick Mayer (USA) with a 10-foot birdie putt at the fifth playoff hole. [Miami Springs G&CC, Miami, FL; at the time known as Miami Springs Municipal Course].

1952
Awards
70.54
n/a
PGA of America

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Score

70.54

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

PGA of America

Burke Jr. (USA) won the PGA of America Vardon Trophy, recording the season's lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour.

1952
America
277 (-11)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Score

277 (-11)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Houston Open (Feb 21-14). Second-placed Frank Stranahan (USA, amateur) finished 6 shots behind Jack Burke Jr (USA). This was the second of four straight wins for Burke Jr, who a week earlier captured the Texas Open, and in subsequent weeks won the Baton Rouge and St Petersburg Opens. (San Antonio. [Memorial Park GC, Houston, TX].

1952
America
260 (-24)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Score

260 (-24)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open (25th) (Feb 14-17). Second-placed Doug Ford (USA) finished 6 shots behind Jack Burke Jr (USA), whose father Jack Sr, also an accomplished professional, failed in nine attempts to win this title. [Brackenridge Park GC, San Antonio, TX].

1950
America
Harlingen GC
264 (-20)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Harlingen GC

Score

264 (-20)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Rio Grande Valley Open (Feb 16-19). Second-placed Skip Alexander (USA) finished 2 shots behind 27-year-old Jack Burke Jr (USA), who was a first-time outright winner on the PGA Tour; a month earlier he shared first place in a four-way tie in the Bing Crosby Pro-Am. [Harlingen GC, Harlingen, TX; now called Tony Butler GC].

1950
America
214 (-2)
$1,237
Bing Crosby

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Score

214 (-2)

Prize money

$1,237

Title sponsor

Bing Crosby

Played as the Bing Crosby Pro-Am (Jan 13-15; 54-hole event). Sam Snead (USA), Jack Burke Jr (USA), Smiley Quick (USA) and Dave Douglas (USA) tied for first place. There was no sudden-death playoff in those days. [Pebble Beach Links, Monterey Peninsula, CA. Earlier rounds also at: Cypress Point Club and Monterey Peninsula CC].

1949
America
Metropolis CC, NY
274 (-10)
$1,000
Metropolitan GA

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Burke, Jack Jr

Venue

Metropolis CC, NY

Score

274 (-10)

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

Metropolitan GA

Played as the Metropolitan Open (Sept 20-22; Metropolitan Golf Assoc event; last played in 1940). Second-placed 47-year-old Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 5 shots behind 26-year-old Jack Burke Jr (USA), who recorded his first professional win. Playing at his home course, Burke's second round 64 set a new course record. [Metropolis CC, White Plains, NY].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

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Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

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Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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