JOURNAL SPORTS
Sam Burns is one of the best putters in professional golf, just not in the last four days.
After a solid start over the opening two rounds, Burns faded from contention in the British Open at Royal Portrush in Ireland. He was in a 17th-place tie after two rounds at 3-under, but carded a pair of 1-over 72s Saturday and Sunday and finished in a 45th-place tie among the 70 players who made the cut.
His close friend and tournament housemate, Dallas native Scottie Scheffler, ran away from the field to post a 17-under winning total and led by as many as six shots Sunday before settling for a dominant four-shot margin. It was Scheffler’s fourth major triumph and second this year to go with The Masters.
Burns’ 1-over final total (70-69-72-72) was hampered by uncharacteristic shortcomings on the greens. His -1.29 strokes gained putting – a statistic that he’s led the PGA Tour in most of the season – ranked 106th in this week’s 156-player field.
The Choudrant resident drove the ball well, ranking 17th with a 315-yard average, and 30th in driving accuracy. His approach game was very reliable, ranking sixth in the field, but 50 percent of his birdie putts came from outside 30 feet.
The 28-year-old has made a career-best six consecutive cuts in major championships and has shown the ability to contend. He was one shot off the lead last year entering the final round of The Open Championship, and he led through the third round and for all but the last three holes of last month’s U.S. Open.
Burns, a Shreveport native and former LSU All-American and college golfer of the year, has been a pro since 2017. He is trying to make a fourth straight appearance on a season-ending USA team, having played in two Presidents Cups (2022, 2024) and the 2023 Ryder Cup.
The top six of 12 USA Ryder Cup slots are determined by points standings, with the final six spots to be selected by captain Keegan Bradley. Burns was a captain’s pick two years ago, when he stood 13th in the final standings. He ranks 15th now.
Burns, who plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, is 22nd in both the Official World Golf Rankings and the FedEx Cup PGA Tour standings.
There are two PGA Tour regular-season events remaining, this week’s 3M Open and the Wyndham Championship. Burns is entered in the 3M Open in Blaine, Minn., with the Wyndham entries not yet posted.
Burns will open the playoffs next month at the FedEx St. Jude Championship and the BMW Championship, events where he finished fifth and second, respectively, in 2024 to qualify for the Tour Championship and virtually lock up his Presidents Cup berth.
