George Burns (golfer)

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George Burns
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Francis Burns III
Born (1949-07-29) July 29, 1949 (age 71)
Brooklyn, New York
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
NationalityFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Residence Boynton Beach, Florida
ChildrenKelly Ann, Eileen Marie
Career
College University of Tennessee
University of Maryland
Turned professional1975
Former tour(s) PGA Tour
European Tour
Champions Tour
European Seniors Tour
Professional wins9
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour4
European Tour2
Other3
Best results in major championships
Masters Tournament T30: 1975
PGA Championship T19: 1977, 1978
U.S. Open T2: 1981
The Open Championship T5: 1977

George Francis Burns III (born July 29, 1949) is an American professional golfer. Turning pro in 1975, Burns had four PGA Tour wins, 80 top-10 finishes and won several other tournaments at both the amateur and professional levels.

Contents

Burns was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was the eldest child of George Burns Jr, President of Smith Corona Typewriters and Durkee Foods, and Kathleen Marie Scott. He attended the University of Tennessee before transferring his freshman year to the University of Maryland where he played defensive end for one season before quitting football to focus solely on golf. He turned pro in 1975.

Burns won four PGA Tour events during that phase of his career. His first win came with Ben Crenshaw at the 1979 Walt Disney World National Team Championship in Orlando. The biggest win of his career came a year later at the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am. Burns had more than 70 top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour. His best finish in a major was at the 1981 U.S. Open where Burns held a three-shot lead going into the final round [1] before finishing T2. [2] Burns also had a T-5 at the 1977 British Open. [3]

After reaching the age of 50 in 1999, Burns began play on the Senior PGA Tour (now known as the PGA Tour Champions). His best finish at that level is a T-9 at the 2000 Brickyard Classic. He lives and plays at Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach, Florida.

Amateur wins (8)

Professional wins (9)

PGA Tour wins (4)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
1Oct 28, 1979 Walt Disney World National Team Championship
(with Flag of the United States.svg Ben Crenshaw)
−33 (62-66-62-65=255)3 strokes Flag of the United States.svg Peter Jacobsen and Flag of the United States.svg D. A. Weibring,
Flag of the United States.svg Jeff Hewes and Flag of the United States.svg Sammy Rachels,
Flag of the United States.svg Scott Bess and Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dan Halldorson
2Feb 3, 1980 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am −8 (71-69-71-69=280)1 stroke Flag of the United States.svg Dan Pohl
3Sep 8, 1985 Bank of Boston Classic −17 (67-66-68-66=267)6 strokes Flag of the United States.svg John Mahaffey, Flag of the United States.svg Jodie Mudd,
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Greg Norman, Flag of the United States.svg Leonard Thompson
4Feb 25, 1987 Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams Open −22 (63-68-70-65=266)4 strokes Flag of the United States.svg J. C. Snead, Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Wadkins

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result
1 1984 Bay Hill Classic Flag of the United States.svg Gary Koch Lost to birdie on second extra hole
2 1985 Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic Flag of the United States.svg Raymond Floyd, Flag of the United States.svg Roger Maltbie Maltbie won with birdie on fourth extra hole

European Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Jul 27, 1975 Scandinavian Enterprise Open −5 (70-70-70-69=279)Playoff Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Marsh
2Sep 14, 1975 Kerrygold International Classic +6 (78-72-70-74=294)Playoff Flag of England.svg John Fowler

European Tour playoff record (2–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 1975 Scandinavian Enterprise Open Flag of Australia (converted).svg Graham Marsh Won with par on first extra hole
21975 Kerrygold International Classic Flag of England.svg John Fowler Won with par on second extra hole

Other wins (3)

Results in major championships

Tournament19751976197719781979
Masters Tournament T30
U.S. Open T49T46T48
The Open Championship T10T10T5CUT
PGA Championship CUTT19T19T28
Tournament19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990
Masters Tournament CUTT33CUTCUTCUT
U.S. Open T28T2T30T34CUTCUTCUT
The Open Championship CUT
PGA Championship CUTT70T42T55CUTCUTCUTCUT
  Top 10
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut (3rd round cut in 1978 Open Championship)
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Summary

TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament 00000062
U.S. Open 010111107
The Open Championship 00013353
PGA Championship 000002126
Totals0102463318

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

See also

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References

  1. George Burns up Open with a 203
  2. David burns off the field
  3. "Golf Major Championships" . Retrieved 2008-01-24.