by Doug Ireland, Journal Services
After breaking through for his first top 10 in a major PGA Tour championship, Choudrant resident Sam Burns wraps up the 2024 majors this week at the British Open, teeing off early this morning.
The 27-year-old Shreveport native will tee off at 4:36 a.m. CT alongside Collin Morikawa and Si Woo Kim.
Burns tied for ninth at the U.S. Open on Father’s Day weekend in North Carolina at Pinehurst No. 2 after firing an even-par 280 over 72 holes of play. It was part of a successful month-long stay on the road that included three top 15 finishes – 10th-place at the Canadian Open, 15th at The Memorial, followed by the U.S. Open and a 4-under-par 55th at the June 20-23 Travelers’ Championship, won by his close friend Scottie Scheffler.
For the 10th time at Royal Troon’s Old Course, the first occurring 101 years ago, the storied Claret Jug is on the line. Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player and this year’s Masters champion, is the overwhelming favorite with six wins and 13 top 10 finishes in 15 tournaments this season.
Burns and Scheffler, who both became first-time fathers in May, did not play last week in the nearby Scottish Open. This weekend will provide the first competition in three weeks for both.
Burns, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, is the 28th ranked golfer in the world and has tallied over $3.6 million in earnings this season. Burns has six top 10 finishes this season, with a season-best finish of T3 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open in February.
The Calvary Baptist Academy grad and two-time LSU All-American has made 13 cuts in the 2024 season and is presently 31st in the FedEx Cup standings.
He missed the cut at last year’s British Open but in 2022 carded a final round 64 for a six-under total (55th overall). In 2021, he finished 72nd.
Burns’ last time in the winner’s circle was at the 2023 World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament, where he defeated Cameron Young in a playoff.
The first two days’ coverage will begin streaming on Peacock at 12:30 a.m. CT with coverage on USA Network from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. The final portion in the first two rounds will be on Peacock beginning at 2 p.m. CT.
On the weekend, TV coverage will begin on USA Network and from 6 a.m. CT until conclusion, NBC Sports will have live coverage.
