It has been a tale of so near yet so far for Sam Burns. But he has eventually learned from the narrow misses. The Valspar was the third time in 2020-21 that he has held a 54-hole lead. He was tied with Jordan Spieth for most on Tour. And he eventually made it this time.
It was here in this backyard that he has dreamt about eventually winning a PGA Tour title. And the dream came eventually true this Sunday when he prevailed at the Valspar Championship.
He has been at the top of the leaderboard as he ended around. But it wasn’t the round when it mattered.
Sam Burns Believes He Had Been Trying Too Hard
Sam Burns said that he had always believed that you needed to have a perfect game to come out on top. But he realized after Sunday’s win that he had been trying too hard as he hit a 3 under 68 that earned him a 3-shot win.
He did all that was needed to win. He was tied at the top, and there were 6 more holes to go. Keegan Bradley fell two behind when he hit his tee shot into the water on the par-3 13th. Sam burns managed to birdie the next hole. He now had a three-shot advantage with four holes left.
At the final hole, he was four ahead. He realized that he was a whisker away from his dream. Luck and injury had forced him to stand back and watch as his peers like Hovland, Wolff won before him. Sam Burns said his belief in Christ helped him in this long wait.
He felt his past chances that he failed to convert prepared him for this moment.
His world ranking stands at No. 44. At 24, Sam Burns is assured of his place at the US Open and a place in the Masters in spring. With this victory, he stands at 14th in the FedExCup.