Jackie Burke, Jr.

Hall of famer Jackie Burke, Jr. won 17 PGA Tour titles, including four consecutive titles (five overall) in 1952 with victories in the Texas Open, Houston Open, Baton Rouge Open and the St. Petersburg Open.  Burke captured the 1956 Masters Tournament by one stroke over Ken Venturi in an impressive comeback victory.

He went on that year to win the PGA Championship at Blue Hill Golf and Country Club in Canton, Massachusetts.  Burke also was named 1956 PGA Player of the Year and was honored the same year with the Vardon Trophy, given to the PGA Tour Player with the year’s best scoring average.  Burke competed on five Ryder Cup teams, posting a 7-1 match record, and after captaincies in 1957 and 1973 served as Honorary Captain in 2004.   

A decorated player and renowned teacher of the game sought out for advice by players including Phil Mickelson, Hal Sutton, and Ben Crenshaw, Burke also championed the purity and integrity of golf, and is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

In 2007, Burke received the PGA Distinguished Service Award, the PGA of America's highest annual individual honor, and in 2004 he was awarded the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award.

Burke’s achievements as a player are only part of his résumé.  In 1957, he joined friend and fellow World Golf Hall of Famer Jimmy Demaret in building and managing the Champions Golf Club in their hometown of Houston, Texas.

Major Victories
•1956:Masters Tournament
•1956:PGA Championship