Jackie Burke Jr., the 2004 recipient of the USGA’s Bob Jones Award and co-founder of Champions Golf Club, the host site for the 1969 U.S. Open and 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, died on Jan. 19, just 10 days shy of his 101st birthday.

The charismatic Texas native – he was born in Fort Worth before his family moved to Houston – was a two-time major champion who regularly competed against the likes of Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson and Champions Club co-founder and fellow Texan Jimmy Demaret.

In 1956, Burke won both of his major championships: the Masters Tournament, where he rallied from eight strokes back, and the PGA Championship, defeating Ted Kroll, 3 and 2, in the championship match. The PGA became a stroke-play competition in 1958. In 1955, he tied for 10th in the U.S. Open at The Olympic Club, his best finish in 11 starts.

A year after his two major victories, Burke and good friend Demaret founded Champions Golf Club in Houston. The 36-hole facility attracted many top-flight amateur players as members as well as several major events, including the 1969 U.S. Open, won by Orville Moody; the 1967 Ryder Cup Matches; the 1993 U.S. Amateur, won by John Harris; and the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open, won by A Lim Kim. It also hosted five Tour Championships, with winners including Tiger Woods and David Duval.

In 2017, the club, led by the efforts of Burke and his wife, Robin, stepped in as a last-minute substitute host site for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship after the original site, Quail Creek in Naples, Fla., suffered hurricane damage. Champions also felt the brunt of Hurricane Harvey in August of that year, but quickly recovered in time to play host to its fourth USGA event.

It’s that kind of benevolence and willingness to give back to the game that earned Burke the 2004 Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honor that goes to an individual who demonstrates the spirit and sportsmanship of its namesake.

Burke was literally born into the game. His father, Jack Burke Sr., was the teaching pro at River Oaks Country Club in Houston. The elder Burke also was a fine player, sharing runner-up honors in the 1920 U.S. Open at Inverness Club.

Jack Jr. developed into a fine player, learning the game at the age of 7 using a 4-iron for every shot, including putts. He also caddied at his father’s club. He graduated from St. Thomas High in Houston before turning professional. Before he joined the Tour, Burke spent four years in the Marines and then briefly worked in the oil fields of Texas. His first job in golf came as an assistant pro at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J. He went on to work under the legendary Claude Harmon at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., before becoming the head professional at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, N.Y.

As a touring professional, Burke amassed 16 PGA Tour victories, his last coming in the 1963 Lucky International Open. He also went 7-1 in five Ryder Cup starts, and he captained the winning 1973 American side that included Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Billy Casper. In 1952, he won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average, and he was named Player of the Year in 1956.

He retired from competitive golf at the age of 33 to focus on teaching at Champions, where he met his wife, Robin, who had come for a putting lesson while a college student at the University of Texas. Jackie displayed his talent by beating Robin in a putting contest using his foot instead of a club, and he continued to provide valuable lessons to her until his death. Robin became one of the country’s top mid-amateur players, reaching the final of the 1997 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She also represented the USA in the 1998 Curtis Cup Match and captained the 2016 USA Team at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club in the Republic of Ireland.

“If I’m out there, he’s out there telling me how to do it,” said Robin. 

Burke was never shy about giving an opinion on the game. A 2009 New York Times piece recounted a moment when Burke hollered at Jack Nicklaus while he was preparing for a U.S. Open. Apparently, to Burke’s mind, Nicklaus wasn’t gripping the club properly. Nicklaus laughed when approached about the incident. “I hadn’t seen the guy in two or three years and he walks up yelling, ‘Nicklaus, what the heck are you doing putting like that?’ I had won only 10 majors by then and he’s giving me this. But that’s Jack Burke. Never without an opinion and one of my favorite all-time guys.”

Burke continued playing the game he so dearly loved into his 90s. At the 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, he mingled with the competitors and held court with friend Hal Sutton during the players’ reception. Sutton was just one of the several major champions he mentored, a list that also included Phil Mickelson, Ben Crenshaw and Steve Elkington.

“Jackie Burke is one of the few people left who really understands this game in its entirety,” said Sutton. “He’s really current with the game. He’s seen all the great players. He knows how they hit it. He understands the golf swing, he’s made it happen and he’s been a great player in his own day.”

Burke was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Robin, and five children, including daughter, Meghan, from his marriage to Robin.

David Shefter is a senior staff writer for the USGA. Email him at dshefter@usga.org.