Jack “Jackie” Burke Jr. was a PGA Tour golfer and winner of both the Masters and PGA Championship in 1956 who won 16 PGA Tour events overall during his career.
- Died: January 19, 2024 (Who else died on January 19?)
- Details of death: Died in Houston at the age of 100.
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Jack Burke Jr.’s legacy
Golf was a big part of Burke’s family. His father almost won the 1920 U.S. Open and was the resident golf pro at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston. Burke started golfing at the age of 7 and by 1942, he had gone pro at 19. He paused his golfing career to spend five years in the Marines during World War II, but he returned to the green after completing his service and quickly found success.
Throughout the early 1950s, Burke was consistently in the Top 20 of the PGA Tour’s money list, including several Top 5 spots. 1956 was his most notable year, with wins at both the Masters and PGA Championship – he is one of only three players to have accomplished that feat. Burke was named PGA Player of the Year and 5th on the tour money list. He continued to win into the 1960s, with his last PGA Tour win coming in 1963.
Burke finished his career with 16 PGA Tour victories and 19 tournament wins overall. In 2000, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, and in 2003 received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award. He was the co-founder of Champions Golf Club in Houston, and he shares a permanent locker at Augusta National Golf Club with Tiger Woods.
Tributes to Jack Burke Jr.
Full obituary: NPR
