John Burns (7 January 1859 – 18 December 1927), a native of St Andrews, was a Scottish professional golfer for part of his life.
Early life Burns, the son of an Irish labourer, and started earning his living as a plasterer. However, there is reference to him being a professional golfer in the minutes of the St Andrews Golf Club in October 1885.
Professional career In 1887, Burns moved to Warwick, England to become the golf professional and greenskeeper at the newly formed Warwickshire Golf Club (now known as Warwick Golf Centre), the first golf club in Warwickshire. Burns returned to Scotland in October 1888 to become the winner of the Open Championship, which was held at the Old Course at St Andrews. The £8 prize of his major championship title accomplishment did not make him a fortune. He returned to his job in Warwick and was involved in the creation of the neighbouring golf course in Kenilworth in 1890.
He moved back to St Andrews in 1891 to work on the railways, but he carried on caddying. When he died in 1927, his profession was listed as a plasterer again.
Major championships
Wins (1) YearChampionshipWinning scoreMarginRunners-up 1888 The Open Championship 86-85=171 1 stroke David Anderson Jr., Ben Sayers
Results timeline Tournament18821883188418851886188718881889The Open ChampionshipT237114 Tournament1890189118921893189418951896189718981899The Open ChampionshipWD45 Tournament190019011902190319041905The Open ChampionshipCUT Note: Burns only played in The Open Championship.
CUT = missed the half-way cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
References
External links Details of the 1888 Open from the official site