By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
Sam Burns didn’t have a Sunday charge this time, but the Choudrant resident earned a million-dollar paycheck with a 12th place finish at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.
The event at East Lake Country Club wrapped up the PGA Tour’s 2024 season but not the golf calendar. Tuesday, the Presidents Cup captains, Jim Furyk of the Unted States and Canada’s Mike Weir leading the International team, will announce their six picks to round out the 12-man rosters for the Sept. 26-29 competition at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
Burns, the Shreveport native and Calvary Baptist graduate, is widely expected to be on Furyk’s list. He tied for second a week earlier at the BMW Championship after a tie for fifth two weeks ago at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, posting strong final rounds each time.
The two-time LSU All-American didn’t have a satisfying finish Sunday, carding a 1-over 70 with four birdies and three bogeys to post 15-under, including the bonus start of 4-under that he earned with his ninth-place standing in the FedEx Cups points system.
Burns shot an opening-round 67, with five back-side birdies, and followed up with two rounds of 68, posting five birdies on the back nine Saturday. He was 12-under on the final nine holes through the first three rounds but managed only even-par 36 Sunday.
The 28-year-old did have one of the day’s most memorable shots. His 146-yard approach to the par-4 16th hit the back right side of the cup on the fly, slightly damaging it, but the ball deflected back 24 feet. Burns, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, buried the putt for his final birdie.
Scottie Scheffler was the Tour Championship winner, capturing the $25 million top prize.
Tour Championship purse money does not count in the PGA Tour’s official totals. Burns has earned $6.2 million officially in 2024.
His season included eight Top 10 finishes and 12 Top 25s in 21 events, including the Tour Championship.
Burns played on the winning USA Team in the 2022 Presidents Cup and was on the losing side for the USA last September at the Ryder Cup.
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com
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