Burke is inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.
Jackie Burke will always be remembered for his string of four consecutive victories ( Texas Open, Houston Open, Baton Rouge Open, and St. Petersburg Open) in 1952. In PGA Tour annals, this feat is second only to Byron Nelson’s 11-victory streak in 1945. In 1952 he won the Vardon Trophy with a stroke average of 70.54. Burke’s earnings for his four wins only amounted to $8,000. At the end of the season he had pocketed $21,000 and was third on the money list. But his best year was yet to come. In 1956, he won both the Masters and the PGA Championship and was named Player of the Year.
The eldest son of Texas trailblazing club pro Jack Burke, Sr. played on five Ryder Cup teams and was twice a captain, non-playing captain in 1973. He was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 1976, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1979.
Burke was a judo instructor in the Marines in WWII. The late
Jimmy Demaret was Burke’s life-long friend, confidant and
business partner. In 1957, they built the famed Champions
Golf Club, site of the 1967 Ryder Cup matches and the 1969
U.S. Open. When Demaret died in 1983, Burke became the
sole owner. He turned professional before his 20th birthday
and headed the operation at Galveston Country Club.