Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Sam Burns
View on Wikipedia
Samuel Holland Burns (born July 23, 1996) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He played his college golf at Louisiana State University. He has won five times on the PGA Tour.
Key Information
Amateur career
[edit]Burns was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to Todd and Beth Burns.[2] During his prep career at Calvary Baptist Academy, he was a three-time individual state champion.[3] He was named AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 2014, a year where he won the Rolex Tournament of Champions in June, the Junior PGA Championship in August, and was on the victorious United States Junior Ryder Cup team.[4] Burns played in his first PGA Tour event at the 2015 Valero Texas Open after receiving an exemption into the tournament following his Junior PGA Championship win in the previous year. He shot a first round 89 on a day where winds gusted to 45 MPH. Burns missed the cut and finished the tournament 22 over par.[5] Burns played college golf at Louisiana State University, where he won four tournaments in 15 collegiate starts during his sophomore season. He was named a first-team All-American and was the NCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year for the 2016–17 season.[6] Burns represented the United States on the winning 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup team and he qualified for the PGA Tour's 2017 Barbasol Championship, where he finished T6.[7][8]
Professional career
[edit]In October 2017, Burns made his PGA Tour debut as a professional at the Sanderson Farms Championship.[9] After finishing T43, he played a week later at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and finished T20. Burns earned guaranteed starts for the first 12 Web.com Tour events of the 2018 season with his T10 finish at the final stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.[10] He finished T2 at the Colombia Championship in February 2018. Burns finished T7 at the Honda Classic with Tiger Woods as his playing partner in the final round, earning Burns entry into the Valspar Championship, where he finished T12.[11] Burns earned his first professional win at the 2018 Savannah Golf Championship on the Web.com Tour when he birdied each of the final three holes to defeat Roberto Castro by one stroke.[12] He gained a place on the PGA Tour at the end of the 2018 Web.com season.[13]
Burns has played on the PGA Tour since the start of the 2018–19 season. In February 2021, he finished solo third place at the Genesis Invitational, one shot outside of the playoff with Tony Finau and Max Homa, Homa being the eventual winner. Burns held the solo lead at the end of each of the first three rounds but was ultimately caught on the back 9 during the final round. In May, Burns won the Valspar Championship for his first PGA Tour victory. Burns shot a final round 68 to win by three strokes over Keegan Bradley.[14] Two weeks later Burns finished runner-up to K.H. Lee at the AT&T Byron Nelson.[15]
On October 3, 2021, Burns won his second PGA Tour title at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson, Mississippi.[16] On March 20, 2022, Burns won his second consecutive Valspar Championship title, beating Davis Riley in a playoff.[17] On May 29, 2022, Burns won the Charles Schwab Challenge after making a 38-foot birdie putt in a playoff against Scottie Scheffler. Burns overcame a seven stroke deficit to win, matching Nick Price in 1994 for largest comeback in a final round to win at Colonial Country Club.[18]
Burns qualified for the U.S. team at the 2022 Presidents Cup; he tied two and lost three of the five matches he played.[19]
In March 2023, Burns won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, defeating Cameron Young 6 and 5 in the championship match.[20]
Burns was selected as one of Zach Johnson's six captain's picks for the 2023 Ryder Cup, which would mark Burns's first appearance in the event.[21]
In September 2023, Burns played on the U.S. team in the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Guidonia, Rome, Italy. The European team won 16.5–11.5 and Burns went 1–2–0 including a loss in his Sunday singles match against Rory McIlroy.
In June 2025, Burns was runner-up at the RBC Canadian Open, losing in a playoff to Ryan Fox.[22] The following week, Burns held the 54-hole lead at the 2025 U.S. Open. He shot an 8-over 78 in the final round to finish tied-7th.[23]
Personal life
[edit]Burns is a Christian.[24] He is married to Caroline Burns.[25] They welcomed their first child, a son named Bear, in 2024.[26]
Burns has been a supporter of Compassion International's "Fill the Stadium" initiative, an initiative "which seeks to provide food, medical supplies and other forms of support to children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic."[24]
Amateur wins
[edit]- 2014 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions, Junior PGA Championship
- 2016 David Toms Intercollegiate, Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic
- 2017 Louisiana Classics, NCAA Baton Rouge Regional
Professional wins (6)
[edit]PGA Tour wins (5)
[edit]| Legend |
|---|
| World Golf Championships (1) |
| Designated events (1)[a] |
| Other PGA Tour (4) |
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 2, 2021 | Valspar Championship | 67-63-69-68=267 | −17 | 3 strokes | |
| 2 | Oct 3, 2021 | Sanderson Farms Championship | 68-66-65-67=266 | −22 | 1 stroke | |
| 3 | Mar 20, 2022 | Valspar Championship (2) | 64-67-67-69=267 | −17 | Playoff | |
| 4 | May 29, 2022 | Charles Schwab Challenge | 71-68-67-65=271 | −9 | Playoff | |
| 5 | Mar 26, 2023 | WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play | 6 and 5 | |||
PGA Tour playoff record (2–2)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 | WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational | Ancer won with birdie on second extra hole | |
| 2 | 2022 | Valspar Championship | Won with birdie on second extra hole | |
| 3 | 2022 | Charles Schwab Challenge | Won with birdie on first extra hole | |
| 4 | 2025 | RBC Canadian Open | Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
Web.com Tour wins (1)
[edit]| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory |
Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 1, 2018 | Savannah Golf Championship | 72-65-65-65=267 | −21 | 1 stroke |
Results in major championships
[edit]Results not in chronological order in 2020.
| Tournament | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | |||
| U.S. Open | CUT | T41 | |
| The Open Championship | |||
| PGA Championship |
| Tournament | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | CUT | T29 | CUT | T46 | |||
| PGA Championship | T29 | WD | T20 | CUT | CUT | T19 | |
| U.S. Open | CUT | T27 | T32 | T9 | T7 | ||
| The Open Championship | NT | T76 | T42 | CUT | T31 | T45 |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
WD = withdrew
NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic
Summary
[edit]| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 14 |
- Most consecutive cuts made – 6 (2024 U.S. Open – 2025 Open Championship, current)
- Longest streak of top-10s – 1 (twice)
Results in The Players Championship
[edit]| Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | CUT | T26 | T35 | T45 | CUT |
CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
World Golf Championships
[edit]Wins (1)
[edit]| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play | n/a | 6 and 5 | ||
Results timeline
[edit]| Tournament | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | |||
| Match Play | 1 | ||
| Invitational | T2 | ||
| Champions | NT1 | NT1 | |
1Canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
"T" = Tied
NT = No tournament
Note that the Championship and Invitational were discontinued from 2022. The Champions was discontinued from 2023.
U.S. national team appearances
[edit]See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play was also a designated event.
References
[edit]- ^ "Week 22 2022 Ending 29 May 2022" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ Lang III, Roy (March 13, 2015). "The Real Deal: Sam Burns". Shreveport Times. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ Hunsucker, Adam (May 7, 2021). "Sam Burns, the Shreveport movement and how he finally broke through with a PGA Tour win". News-Star. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ Lang III, Roy (October 30, 2014). "Shreveport's Sam Burns named national Player of Year". Shreveport Times. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ Wright, Shayne (April 3, 2015). "Sam Burns all smiles after missing Valero Texas Open cut". KSLA. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
- ^ "Sam Burns named Nicklaus Player of the Year". The Advocate. June 1, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ Casey, Kevin (March 16, 2017). "Sam Burns, Hannes Ronneblad highlight 2017 Palmer Cup selections". Golfweek. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ Lang III, Roy (July 23, 2017). "Sam Burns captures 6th place at Barbasol on PGA Tour". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ DiMeglio, Steve (October 24, 2017). "Dustin Johnson headlines strong field at WGC event in Shanghai". USA Today. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ Martin, Sean (December 29, 2017). "Players to Watch: No. 3, Sam Burns". PGA Tour. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
- ^ Herrington, Ryan (March 11, 2018). "Late stumble at Innisbrook puts Sam Burns' plans to join PGA Tour on hold ... for now". Golf Digest. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
- ^ Rabalais, Scott (April 1, 2018). "Former LSU golfer Sam Burns birdies final three holes for Web.com Tour victory, his first". The Advocate. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- ^ "Meet The 50 newest PGA Tour members". PGA Tour. September 23, 2018.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (May 2, 2021). "Sam Burns pulls away at Innisbrook, claims first PGA title". Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ "K.H. Lee wins rainy Byron Nelson, earns PGA spot". ESPN.com. May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ "Sam Burns pulls away in Mississippi for 2nd PGA Tour win of the year". Sportsnet.ca. Associated Press. October 3, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (March 20, 2022). "Burns repeats at Innisbrook after playoff win over Riley". Associated Press. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ Hawkins, Stephen (May 30, 2022). "Burns playoff birdie to beat No. 1 Scheffler at Colonial". Associated Press. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ Beall, Joel (September 25, 2022). "Presidents Cup 2022: Our grades for all 24 players, from an A+ for Spieth to an F for Scheffler". Golf Digest. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
- ^ Ferguson, Doug (March 26, 2023). "Sam Burns wins final Match Play in rout over Cameron Young". Associated Press News. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ "Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth headline Zach Johnson's U.S. Ryder Cup captain's picks". Golf Magazine. August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
- ^ "Fox takes Canadian Open for 2nd win in 5 weeks". ESPN. Associated Press. June 9, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ Pryor, Brooke (June 16, 2025). "Burns denied water relief on 15th, double-bogeys". ESPN. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ a b Doering, Joshua (May 4, 2021). "Sam Burns wins first PGA Tour event while helping 'Fill the Stadium'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ Athreya, Arjun (May 15, 2021). "Who Is Sam Burns' Wife? Meet His Childhood Sweetheart Caroline Campbell Burns". Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ Rogers, Claire (August 20, 2024). "PGA Tour babies, Scheffler's sweet gesture, Schauffele's jokes". Golf Magazine. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Sam Burns at the PGA Tour official site
- Sam Burns at the Official World Golf Ranking official site
- Profile on LSU's official athletic site Archived February 26, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
Sam Burns
View on GrokipediaEarly life and amateur career
Early life
Samuel Holland Burns was born on July 23, 1996, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to parents Todd and Beth Burns.[5] He is the youngest of three siblings, with an older sister named Tori and an older brother named Chase.[5] The Burns family has a strong athletic background rooted in football; Todd played for Louisiana Tech University in the early 1980s, where he met Beth, and Chase followed in his footsteps by also playing football for the Bulldogs.[11] Despite this family tradition, Beth became a key supporter of Sam's burgeoning interest in golf, encouraging his development even as he navigated the shift away from football.[11] Burns was introduced to golf at age four when his brother Chase handed him an 8-iron, prompting him to hit an impressive 70-yard shot with a natural draw.[11] By age five, he was already competing in local junior tournaments in the Shreveport area, supported by his family's encouragement and access to nearby courses.[11] This early exposure fostered his passion, leading him to negotiate a backyard putting green with his mother in exchange for continuing football for one more year during middle school; ultimately, he committed fully to golf by eighth grade.[11] Burns attended Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport, where he began competitive junior golf and helped lead the team to five consecutive LHSAA state championships from 2010 to 2014.[5] He emerged as a standout, securing three individual state titles in 2012, 2013, and 2014.[5] This success paved the way for his recruitment to Louisiana State University, where he continued his golf career.[5]College career
Burns committed to the Louisiana State University (LSU) men's golf program in November 2013 as one of the top recruits in the nation.[12] He enrolled at LSU in the fall of 2015 and joined the LSU Tigers golf team under head coach Chuck Winstead.[13] As a freshman during the 2015-16 season, Burns posted a scoring average of 72.22 across 13 tournaments, earning honorable mention All-America honors from Golfweek and finishing the year ranked No. 35 in Golfstat's individual rankings.[5] He also received first-team All-SEC recognition that season for his contributions to the team's efforts.[14] In his sophomore year of 2016-17, Burns emerged as one of the premier players in college golf, winning four individual tournaments in 15 starts and setting an LSU single-season scoring record with a 70.04 average.[5] Notable victories included the David Toms Intercollegiate, the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic, the Louisiana Classics, and the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, where he claimed medalist honors with a 10-under-par total to help LSU secure its first-ever NCAA regional team title.[15] His performance propelled the Tigers to the NCAA Championship, where they finished ninth as a team, and earned Burns first-team All-SEC honors, SEC Player of the Year, PING first-team All-America selection, and the NCAA Division I Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year award.[16][17] Following his dominant junior season—though he only completed two full years at LSU—Burns announced in May 2017 that he would forgo his remaining eligibility and turn professional after competing in the Walker Cup.[18] This decision came after he ranked No. 2 nationally in the Golfstat individual standings and established himself as a key leader on the Tigers' squad.[5]Amateur achievements
Sam Burns compiled an impressive amateur record, securing a total of 10 wins across junior and collegiate events. These successes contributed to his reputation as one of the top amateur golfers in the United States during his time at Louisiana State University.[5] Burns gained significant international exposure by representing the United States in the 2017 Palmer Cup, a Ryder Cup-style event between American and European collegians. He posted a 4-1-0 record over the matches, helping Team USA secure a 33.5-26.5 victory against Europe at the Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois. His performance included key contributions in foursomes and singles formats, highlighting his ability to perform under team pressure.[19] In the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Burns experienced steady progression, reaching a career-high of No. 2 in 2017, reflecting his strong results in major amateur events throughout the year. Other key accomplishments included winning the 2017 Western Amateur and advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2016 U.S. Amateur, where he demonstrated resilience in stroke play by tying for 19th before entering match play. These achievements, combined with four collegiate wins at LSU, solidified his status as a premier amateur talent prior to turning professional.[20][21]Professional career
Early professional years (2017–2020)
Burns turned professional in September 2017, forgoing his senior year at Louisiana State University after a standout amateur career. He earned conditional status on the PGA Tour by advancing through the 2017 Korn Ferry Tour Q-School, finishing tied for 10th at the final stage to secure guaranteed starts on the developmental tour. This performance allowed him to compete in select PGA Tour events as a non-member while primarily focusing on the Korn Ferry Tour.[22][23] In 2018, Burns had a strong rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour, recording a victory at the Savannah Golf Championship and another top-10 finish among his 17 starts. He concluded the regular season second on the money list with $291,878 in earnings, which qualified him for the Korn Ferry Tour Finals and ultimately earned him full exempt status on the PGA Tour for 2019 as one of the top 25 money winners. This breakthrough performance marked his establishment as a promising talent transitioning to the top level of professional golf.[24][25] Burns' 2019 rookie season on the PGA Tour was marked by inconsistency, as he made the cut in 16 of 28 starts while posting three top-10 finishes and six top-25 results. Despite the challenges, he achieved a personal milestone by making his first cut in a major championship at the U.S. Open, where he finished tied for 43rd after rounds of 71-73-76-76. An injury—a broken ankle sustained in a pickup basketball game—sidelined him for the latter part of the season, limiting his opportunities to build momentum.[26][27] The 2020 season brought gradual improvement for Burns amid the COVID-19-shortened schedule, highlighted by a tied for 30th finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic—his first top-30 on the PGA Tour—and consistent play in several events. He ended the year ranked 94th in the FedEx Cup standings with 300 points, earning entry into the playoffs but missing the cut at The Northern Trust. To secure full PGA Tour membership for 2021 and avoid limited conditional status, Burns competed in the late-2020 Q-School, performing strongly enough to regain exempt privileges for the upcoming season.[28]Breakthrough and PGA Tour wins (2021–2023)
Sam Burns secured his breakthrough on the PGA Tour with a victory at the 2021 Valspar Championship, marking his first title by firing a final-round 3-under 68 to win by three strokes over Keegan Bradley at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course. This win came after several near-misses earlier in his career, including a T3 at the 2020 RSM Classic and the 2021 Genesis Invitational. Later that year, Burns claimed his second PGA Tour title at the Sanderson Farms Championship, where he shot a 5-under 67 in the final round to finish at 22-under par, edging out Nick Watney and Cameron Young by one stroke after a strong back-nine stretch featuring four birdies in six holes. These victories propelled Burns into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time and helped him secure a top-10 finish in the 2021-22 FedEx Cup standings, finishing seventh overall after strong playoff performances. In 2022, Burns continued his ascent by successfully defending his Valspar Championship title, defeating Davis Riley in a sudden-death playoff with a birdie putt from over 30 feet on the second extra hole at the par-5 16th, following matching pars on the first playoff hole. He closed regulation with a 2-under 69, marking his third PGA Tour win in less than a year. Burns then added a fourth victory at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he overcame a seven-shot deficit to force a playoff with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, ultimately winning with a 38-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole at Colonial Country Club after both players birdied the 18th in regulation. These triumphs elevated Burns to a career-high OWGR of No. 9 in May 2022 and contributed to another top-10 FedEx Cup finish that season, where he ranked third in the regular-season standings with 2,275 points. Burns capped this period with his fifth PGA Tour win at the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, going undefeated through the knockout stages after advancing from his group stage. In the final at Austin Country Club, he dominated Cameron Young with eight birdies in his last 10 holes to secure a 6-and-5 victory, following a semifinal win over Scheffler. This performance, his first in a World Golf Championship event, underscored his growing prowess in high-stakes formats and helped him maintain momentum into the 2022-23 FedEx Cup season, where he achieved a top-20 overall standing with consistent top finishes.Recent performance (2024–2025)
In the 2024 season, Sam Burns recorded multiple top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour, highlighted by a tied for 41st place at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where he finished at 9-over par.[29] He also achieved a runner-up finish at the BMW Championship during the FedEx Cup Playoffs, contributing to his qualification for the Tour Championship, where he tied for 12th. Burns made his Ryder Cup debut at Whistling Straits, posting a 0-3-0 record.[30] These performances helped Burns secure 22nd place in the final FedEx Cup standings, earning him $5.2 million in official prize money for the year.[31] Burns continued his consistent form into 2025 without securing a victory, logging six top-10 finishes across 25 starts on the PGA Tour as of early November.[32] Notable results included a tied for fifth at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson and a tied for fourth at the BMW Championship.[33] In the majors, he made the cut in all four events for the first time in his career, with finishes of tied for 46th at the Masters Tournament (5-over par), tied for 19th at the PGA Championship (2-under par), tied for seventh at the U.S. Open (4-over par after a final-round 78), and tied for 25th at The Open Championship.[34][34] His strong overall play, particularly leading the Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting (+0.98 per round), earned him a spot on the U.S. Team for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where he posted a 1-2-0 record across four matches.[35][36] Throughout 2025, Burns remained loyal to his Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S driver (9 degrees, lofted to 10), a model from 2023 that he has used since gaining full PGA Tour status, crediting its reliability for his driving accuracy despite the availability of newer options.[37] By November 3, 2025, Burns had surpassed $34 million in career PGA Tour earnings, reflecting his sustained top-tier contention.[38] Media analyses have pointed to putting consistency in majors as an area for growth, noting that while Burns ranked first in Strokes Gained: Putting overall, his performance dipped in high-pressure major rounds, such as the final-round collapse at the U.S. Open.[39][35]Personal life
Family and marriage
Sam Burns met his wife, Caroline Campbell, while both were students at Louisiana State University, where they began dating during their college years.[40] The couple became engaged on April 19, 2019, during the RBC Heritage tournament, and married eight months later on December 20, 2019, at Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina.[41][42] Burns and Campbell welcomed their first child, a son named Bear, on April 22, 2024.[43] The family frequently travels together to support Burns at PGA Tour events, with Caroline and Bear often accompanying him to tournaments, providing emotional backing amid his professional commitments.[44][45] The Burns family resides in Choudrant, Louisiana, a small village near Shreveport, where they maintain strong ties to Burns' hometown roots.[46]Interests and philanthropy
Sam Burns, a native of Shreveport, Louisiana, maintains a strong affinity for outdoor pursuits that reflect his Southern roots, including hunting and fishing. He has shared that deer hunting is a yearly tradition, often participating during Louisiana's extended hunting season from fall through January. Burns also enjoys fishing as a way to unwind from the demands of professional golf.[2][47][48] Beyond the course, Burns engages with fans through social media platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), where he posts about his personal life, golf highlights, and outdoor adventures to build community and share insights. His endorsements with major brands, including Callaway for equipment, Adidas for apparel, Mastercard, RBC, and ADP, align with his professional lifestyle and provide support for his career. He uses Titleist Vokey Design wedges.[2][49][50][37] Burns contributes to philanthropy by supporting initiatives that aid children and local communities. In 2023, he and his wife joined Compassion International's "Fill the Stadium" campaign, committing to sponsor children in poverty and helping raise nearly $24 million to support over 48,000 kids globally through sponsorships providing education, healthcare, and nutrition. As a Ryder Cup participant in 2025, he donated his $500,000 team stipend to charities in North Louisiana, emphasizing community impact in his hometown region. Additionally, Burns supports youth golf development, offering instructional tips to junior players at events like the Kelly Gibson Foundation's initiatives in 2022 and lending his name to the annual Sam Burns Junior Four-Ball Championship organized by the Louisiana Junior Golf Tour.[51][52][53][54]Professional wins
PGA Tour wins
Sam Burns has secured five victories on the PGA Tour, beginning with his breakthrough win in 2021 and culminating in a dominant performance at a World Golf Championship event in 2023. These triumphs highlight his rapid ascent, marked by strong ball-striking and clutch putting in pressure situations.[9] His first PGA Tour title came at the 2021 Valspar Championship, held from April 29 to May 2 at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida, where he finished at 17-under par with a final-round 68 to win by three strokes over Keegan Bradley. This victory, his maiden on the tour, earned him $1,242,000 and propelled him into the winner's circle after several near-misses earlier in the season.[55][56] Later that year, Burns captured his second win at the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship on October 3 in Jackson, Mississippi, a tournament near his Louisiana roots, closing with a 5-under 67 to finish at 22-under par and edge out Nick Watney and Cameron Young by one stroke. The performance featured a hot back-nine streak with four birdies in six holes, securing $1,260,000 in prize money.[57][58] Burns defended his Valspar title successfully in 2022, winning the March 17–20 edition at Innisbrook with a total of 17-under par, defeating Davis Riley in a two-hole playoff after both finished regulation tied; he sealed it with a 32-foot birdie putt on the second extra hole, earning $1,404,000. This repeat made him the fourth multiple winner in the event's history.[59][60] In May 2022, he claimed his fourth title at the Charles Schwab Challenge from May 26–29 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, rallying from seven strokes back with a final-round 65 to force a playoff with Scottie Scheffler, then winning on the first extra hole via a 38-foot birdie putt for $1,512,000. The victory came against the world No. 1 at the time, underscoring Burns' competitive edge.[61][62] His fifth win arrived at the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, March 22–26 at Austin Country Club in Texas, where he went undefeated at 7-0, including a 3-0-1 group stage record, before defeating Scottie Scheffler in the semifinals and routing Cameron Young 6-and-5 in the final—the largest margin in the event's final history—with eight birdies in his last 10 holes. This elevated-event triumph netted $3,500,000, the largest of his career.[7][63] Collectively, these victories have generated approximately $8.9 million in prize money for Burns.Korn Ferry Tour wins
Burns secured his sole victory on the Korn Ferry Tour at the inaugural 2018 Savannah Golf Championship, held from March 29 to April 1 at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Savannah, Georgia.[64] He finished at 21-under-par 267, carding a final-round 7-under 65 that included birdies on the last three holes to edge out Roberto Castro by one stroke.[65] The win earned him $99,000 and propelled him to second place on the Regular Season points list after 16 starts, marking his breakthrough as a professional.[66] This performance was pivotal in securing his PGA Tour membership for the 2019 season through the top 25 on the points list.[66]Major championships
Results summary
Sam Burns made his major championship debut in 2018 at the U.S. Open. Over the course of his career through 2025, he has competed in 25 majors, making the cut in 18 of them with an average finish of T-32 when advancing to the weekend.[9] He has yet to record a top-5 finish in any major as of 2025.[9]| Year | Masters Tournament | U.S. Open | The Open Championship | PGA Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | DNP | T41 | DNP | DNP |
| 2019 | DNP | T50 | DNP | MC |
| 2020 | MC | DNP | DNP | T50 |
| 2021 | T29 | MC | T76 | T35 |
| 2022 | CUT | T27 | T42 | T20 |
| 2023 | T29 | T32 | MC | CUT |
| 2024 | T74 | T9 | T31 | CUT |
| 2025 | T46 | T7 | T45 | T19 |
Notable performances
Burns achieved his first top-30 finish in a major championship at the 2021 Masters Tournament, tying for 29th place through steady play that included consistent scoring across all four rounds despite challenging conditions at Augusta National. This performance marked an important milestone for the then-emerging PGA Tour professional, showcasing his ability to handle the pressure of his major debut. A career highlight came at the 2024 U.S. Open held at Pinehurst No. 2, where Burns tied for ninth at 4-under par, his best result in a major at the time, propelled by exceptional putting that saved par multiple times on the treacherous greens. His composure under the demanding setup demonstrated growing maturity in high-stakes events.[67] Burns' career-best major finish occurred at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, where he tied for seventh at +4, highlighted by a second-round 65 that gave him the 36-hole lead, followed by strong play before a final-round 78. This result featured precise iron play and key birdies on par-5 holes.[68][69] In 2025, Burns made the cut in all four majors, with additional finishes of T46 at the Masters Tournament, T19 at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, and T45 at The Open Championship at Royal Portrush. Early in his major career, Burns faced challenges, missing cuts in several initial appearances due to inexperience with the unique demands of these tournaments. He missed the cut at the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Over time, Burns' evolution has been evident in his refined ball-striking, which enabled him to make the cut in all 2025 majors and post competitive scores.[9]The Players Championship and World Golf Championships
Results in The Players Championship
Sam Burns made his debut in The Players Championship in 2019, missing the cut with rounds of 76-73.[70] In 2020, the tournament was cancelled after one round due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Burns shot 73 (+1).[71] He missed the cut again in 2021 with 81-76 (+13).[72] His best performance to date occurred in 2022 at TPC Sawgrass, where he carded rounds of 68-69-71-76 for a 4-under-par total, securing a tied for 26th-place finish.[73] Burns finished tied for 35th in 2023 (-4), followed by tied for 45th in 2024 (-4).[74][75] In the 2025 edition, he missed the cut with 73-72 (+5).[76] Across seven appearances, Burns has made the cut three times (2022–2024), bolstered by his strong approach play on the Stadium Course. While he has yet to claim victory, Burns has emerged as a consistent contender in the field since gaining full PGA Tour status in 2021.[9]World Golf Championships results
Sam Burns made his debut in World Golf Championships events during the 2021 season, competing in the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind, where he finished tied for second after posting a total score of 16-under par, losing in a playoff to Abraham Ancer on the second extra hole.[77] His next appearance came in 2022 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin, Texas, but he withdrew prior to the start of the tournament following a victory at the Valspar Championship the previous week.[78] Burns achieved his sole WGC title in 2023 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, the final edition of the event before its discontinuation. Seeded 16th, he went undefeated with a 7-0 record across 119 holes, defeating Adam Hadwin 3&2, Adam Scott 1-up, and Seamus Power 2-up in group play; Matt Fitzpatrick 1-up in the round of 16; Tom Kim 4&2 in the quarterfinals; Scottie Scheffler 2-up in the semifinals; and Cameron Young 6&5 in the 18-hole final, where he birdied five of his last six holes to pull away decisively.[79] This victory, his fifth on the PGA Tour, earned him $3.6 million and propelled his Official World Golf Ranking from 15th to 10th, boosting his confidence in high-stakes, elite-field competitions.[80][81] With the WGC series concluding after 2023, Burns did not participate in any further WGC-sanctioned events through 2025. The match play format's emphasis on head-to-head matchups highlighted Burns' putting prowess and composure under pressure, skills that contributed to his undefeated run.[7]| Year | Event | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational | T2 |
| [2022 | WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play](/page/2022_WGC-Dell_Technologies_Match_Play) | WD |
| [2023 | WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play](/page/2023_WGC-Dell_Technologies_Match_Play) | 1 |
| 2024 | – | DNP |
| 2025 | – | DNP |
