Walter E. Burkemo (October 9, 1918 – October 8, 1986) was an American professional golfer, best known for winning the PGA Championship in 1953.
Early life Burkemo was born in Detroit, Michigan. He was the youngest of 13 children of Norwegian immigrants who settled there. He began in golf at the age of 8 by caddying at Lochmoor Country Club in Detroit.
Professional career Burkemo won his first title in 1938 at the Southern Florida Open; however, World War II intervened soon thereafter and he found himself drafted into the U.S. Army. Burkemo served in the infantry as a sergeant in the European Theater. He was seriously wounded twice, earning two Purple Hearts, the second time during the Battle of the Bulge.
Burkemo resumed his PGA Tour career after recovering from his injuries. He had little success in the late 1940s; but in 1951, his luck began to change when he won his first of four Michigan Opens. His best years in professional golf were in the early 1950s; he won the PGA Championship in 1953 and was runner-up in 1951 and 1954. Although he was one of the most consistent top-10 finishers on the tour, he would go on to win only one more event, the Mayfair Inn Open in 1957. He was a member of the Ryder Cup team in 1953.
The 1953 PGA Championship was played in July at Birmingham Country Club in Birmingham, Michigan, only six miles (10 km) from the Franklin Hills Country Club where Burkemo was club pro. He benefited from a so-called "home field advantage" because during the match play era, the PGA Championship was a marathon of double rounds for five straight days. The week began with 36 holes of qualifying on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by six matches – two rounds at 18 holes each on Friday and the last four rounds at 36 holes, concluding with the final on Tuesday. He also benefited from the fact that Ben Hogan, the reigning Masters and U.S. Open champion, was in Scotland to practice and qualify for the British Open, which started the day after the PGA Championship final match. In an era without any exemptions, the British Open's mandatory 36-hole qualifier immediately preceded the competition on Monday and Tuesday, during the semifinals and finals of the PGA. (After his automobile accident in 1949, Hogan did not enter the PGA Championship until 1960, then a stroke play event.) Burkemo's toughest match en route to the final against Felice Torza was in the semifinals against 1948 Masters champion Claude Harmon. Burkemo was 3 down after 11 holes but rallied and birdied the 36th hole to win 1 up.
After the 1954 season, Burkemo returned to life as a club pro because the grind of the PGA Tour was proving too difficult for him to maintain with a wife and four children. He continued to play the tour part-time for the rest of his career. He and his brother Vic opened Burkemo's driving range in St. Clair Shores.
Personal life Burkemo died in Fenton a day before his 68th birthday.
Awards and honors Burkemo was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame and the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame.
Professional wins (8) PGA Tour wins (2) Legend Major championships (1) Other PGA Tour (1) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner(s)-up1Jul 7, 1953PGA Championship2 and 1 Felice Torza2Dec 15, 1957Mayfair Inn Open−11 (70-65-66-68=269)1 stroke Jay Hebert, Ed Oliver Source:
Other wins (6) this list is probably incomplete 1938 Southern Florida Open 1951 Michigan Open 1955 Michigan Open, Michigan PGA Championship 1957 Michigan Open 1970 Michigan Open
Major championships
Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreRunner-up 1953 PGA Championship 2 & 1 Felice Torza Note: The PGA Championship was match play until 1958
Results timeline Tournament193719381939Masters TournamentU.S. OpenCUTPGA Championship
Tournament1940194119421943194419451946194719481949Masters TournamentNTNTNTU.S. OpenNTNTNTNTPGA ChampionshipNT
Tournament1950195119521953195419551956195719581959Masters TournamentT42T22T15T17CUTCUTT22U.S. OpenT36CUTT40CUTCUTT29T4T5WDPGA Championship2R1612R64R163T16T17
Tournament1960196119621963196419651966196719681969Masters TournamentT6T11CUTT43CUTU.S. OpenT49CUTT8CUTT22PGA ChampionshipT2414T39CUTT17T41CUTCUTCUT
Tournament19701971Masters TournamentU.S. OpenPGA ChampionshipCUTCUT Note: Burkemo never played in The Open Championship
WD = withdrew CUT = missed the half-way cut R64, R32, R16, QF, SF = Round in which player lost in PGA Championship match play "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 1 6 12 8U.S. Open 0 0 0 2 3 4 14 8The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0PGA Championship 1 2 1 4 6 11 20 14Totals 1 2 1 6 10 21 46 30 Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (1951 PGA – 1954 Masters) Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (1957 U.S. Open – 1957 PGA)
U.S. national team appearances Ryder Cup: 1953 (winners) Hopkins Trophy: 1954 (winners)
See also List of men's major championships winning golfers
References
External links