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.
Early life 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.
Amateur career Burns 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.
Professional career In 1975, Burns turned pro. He 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 roundGeorge Burns up Open with a 203 before finishing T2.David burns off the field Burns also had a T-5 at the 1977 British Open.
After reaching the age of 50 in 1999, Burns began play on the Senior PGA Tour. His best finish at that level is a T-9 at the 2000 Brickyard Classic.
Personal life Burns lives 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.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Oct 28, 1979Walt 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 Halldorson2Feb 3, 1980Bing Crosby National Pro-Am−8 (71-69-71-69=280)1 stroke Dan Pohl3Sep 8, 1985Bank of Boston Classic−17 (67-66-68-66=267)6 strokes John Mahaffey, Jodie Mudd, Greg Norman, Leonard Thompson4Feb 25, 1987Shearson 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.YearTournamentOpponent(s)Result11984Bay Hill Classic Gary KochLost to birdie on second extra hole21985Manufacturers Hanover Westchester Classic Raymond Floyd, Roger MaltbieMaltbie won with birdie on fourth extra hole
European Tour wins (2) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up1Jul 27, 1975Scandinavian Enterprise Open−5 (70-70-70-69=279)Playoff Graham Marsh2Sep 14, 1975Kerrygold International Classic +6 (78-72-70-74=294)Playoff John Fowler
European Tour playoff record (2–0) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult11975Scandinavian Enterprise Open Graham MarshWon with par on first extra hole21975Kerrygold International Classic John FowlerWon 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 Tournament19751976197719781979Masters TournamentT30LAU.S. OpenT49T46T48The Open ChampionshipT10T10T5CUTPGA ChampionshipCUTT19T19T28 Tournament19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990Masters TournamentCUTT33CUTCUTCUTU.S. OpenT28T2T30T34CUTCUTCUTThe Open ChampionshipCUTPGA ChampionshipCUTT70T42T55CUTCUTCUTCUT
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 Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts madeMasters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2U.S. Open 0 1 0 1 1 1 10 7The Open Championship 0 0 0 1 3 3 5 3PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 2 12 6Totals 0 1 0 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)
See also Fall 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates 1990 PGA Tour Qualifying School graduates
References
External links