William John Burke, born Burkowski (December 14, 1902 – April 19, 1972) was a prominent American professional golfer of the 1920s and 1930s.
Burke was born in Naugatuck, Connecticut. His greatest season was 1931, when he won the U.S. Open, reached the semi-finals of the PGA Championship, and won four events on the professional circuit, plus appeared on the Ryder Cup team where he was undefeated in two matches. He was also selected for the 1933 Ryder Cup team but not before some agitation by Gene Sarazen was done on his behalf. Burke won his only match in the 1933 competition.
Burke's 1931 U.S. Open win came in a marathon playoff. He and George Von Elm were tied at 292 (8 over par) after regulation play. They played a 36-hole playoff the next day and tied again at 149 (7 over par). The following day they played 36 more holes and Burke emerged victorious 148 to 149.
Throughout Burke's golf career he used a unorthodox grip due to the loss of two fingers on his left hand. Burke died in Clearwater, Florida.
Famous quotes containing the words billy and/or burke:
“Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda,
Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?
And he sang as he watched and waited while his billy boiled:
‘Who’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?’”
—Andrew Barton Peterson (1864–1941)
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
—Edmund Burke (1729–1797)