George Burns (golfer)

George Burns
George Burns
Personal information
Full name	George Francis Burns III
Born	July 29, 1949 (age 75); Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg; 14 st)
Sporting nationality	United States
Residence	Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S.
Children	Kelly Ann, Eileen Marie
Career
College	University of Tennessee ; University of Maryland
Turned professional	1975
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour ; European Tour ; Champions Tour ; European Seniors Tour
Professional wins	9
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	4
European Tour	2
Other	3
Best results in major championships;
Masters Tournament	T30: 1975
PGA Championship	T19: 1977, 1978
U.S. Open	T2: 1981
The Open Championship	T5: 1977

Last updated November 27, 2024

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.

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

1972 Metropolitan Amateur, Monroe Invitational, Long Island Amateur
1973 Canadian Amateur Championship
1974 Azalea Invitational, Porter Cup, North and South Amateur, New York State Amateur

Professional wins (9)

PGA Tour wins (4)

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

PGA Tour playoff record (0–2)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1984	Bay Hill Classic	Gary Koch	Lost to birdie on second extra hole
2	1985	Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic	Raymond Floyd, Roger Maltbie	Maltbie won with birdie on fourth extra hole

European Tour wins (2)

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning score	Margin of victory	Runner-up
1	Jul 27, 1975	Scandinavian Enterprise Open	−5 (70-70-70-69=279)	Playoff	Graham Marsh
2	Sep 14, 1975	Kerrygold International Classic	+6 (78-72-70-74=294)	Playoff	John Fowler

European Tour playoff record (2–0)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent	Result
1	1975	Scandinavian Enterprise Open	Graham Marsh	Won with par on first extra hole
2	1975	Kerrygold International Classic	John Fowler	Won with par on second extra hole

Other wins (3)

1982 New York State Open, Panama Open
1988 Chrysler Team Championship (with Wayne Levi)

Results in major championships

Tournament	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Masters Tournament	T30LA
U.S. Open			T49	T46	T48
The Open Championship	T10	T10	T5	CUT
PGA Championship		CUT	T19	T19	T28

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1990
Masters Tournament	CUT		T33	CUT			CUT	CUT
U.S. Open	T28	T2	T30		T34		CUT		CUT	CUT
The Open Championship	CUT
PGA Championship	CUT	T70	T42	T55	CUT	CUT	CUT	CUT

Top 10

Did not play

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

Summary

Tournament	2nd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	0	0	0	0	6	2
U.S. Open	1	1	1	1	10	7
The Open Championship	0	1	3	3	5	3
PGA Championship	0	0	0	2	12	6
Totals	1	2	4	6	33	18

Most consecutive cuts made – 5 (1981 U.S. Open – 1982 PGA)
Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1975 Open Championship – 1976 Open Championship)

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

Eisenhower Trophy: 1974 (winners)
Walker Cup: 1975 (winners)

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References

↑ George Burns up Open with a 203
↑ David burns off the field
↑ "Golf Major Championships" . Retrieved January 24, 2008.

External links

George Burns at the PGA Tour official site
George Burns at the European Tour official site
George Burns at the Official World Golf Ranking official site

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[1] George Burns up Open with a 203

[2] David burns off the field

[3] "Golf Major Championships" . Retrieved January 24, 2008.

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