HOUSTON – Jack Burke, Jr., golf’s oldest living Masters and PGA Championship winner, will have his 100th birthday party Sunday befitting his legendary status with some of the golf greats with a personal connection to Burke at the place he founded, Champions Golf Club.
Son Mike Burke, who took over the club from his dad two years ago, organized a party which will include two-time Masters Champion Ben Crenshaw, PGA Championship winner Steve Elkington, teacher Butch Harmon, who was taught the game by Burke, and teacher Jim McLean.
Longtime family friend and Houston Astros owner Jim Crain will be on hand with the Astros World Series trophy and Burke will blow out 100 candles in front of the hundreds of Champions members, family and friends.
Tributes are expected to flow in from all over the golf world, even though most of today’s players never saw him hit a shot and have little, if any, memory of when he dominated the PGA Tour with two major championship wins in 1956, a Vardon Trophy in 1952, and a top 10 U.S. Open finish in 1955 among 19 professional wins and five straight Ryder Cup appearances.
Augusta National Golf Club officials said they plan to acknowledge Burke’s 100th birthday and 1956 Masters win in their Masters Journal program this spring and at the 2023 Tournament. While he can no longer attend the Tuesday champions dinner at Augusta, Burke still shares a locker with five-time winner Tiger Woods, who won the first of his three Tour Championships at Champions.
All to salute the Fort Worth, Texas, native who has impacted the game of golf at every level from student to player to teacher to mentor, Ryder Cup captain and assistant and elite club founder.
Jack Burke Jr. hits from second tee in third round of the 1952 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo: Associated Press)
“Always remember, golf pro is short for promoter, you always have to promote the game,” Burke said among the lessons he’s learned as his enters his 10th decade.
Perhaps no one in golf’s history has done more to promote the game than Burke, who still makes regular visits to his Houston golf club to visit and talk with members and guests and if he feels up to it, uses his cane to come out to the putting green and driving range.
Just don’t ask him for a secret to help your game.
“I don’t give tips, son, tips are for horse races,” he said.
Known for his straight-shooting style, Burke has been telling…
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