Sam Burns is heading into Sunday’s final round of The Open with a two-stroke lead, sitting at a scorching 10 under, but if you think this thing is over, you haven’t been watching. This dude has been playing out of his mind, setting records left and right, and now everyone else is playing catch-up.
Burns’ Unstoppable Roll at Royal Birkdale
Talk about a hot streak! Burns has been nothing short of sensational over the last 36 holes. On Friday, he matched the lowest round in major championship history. Think that’s impressive? He then pulled off an even tougher feat, following it up perfectly on Saturday at Royal Birkdale, signing for the second-lowest round of the day with a 65. That’s not all: his scoring total across consecutive rounds, a ridiculous 127, is the lowest in any men’s major championship history. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.
The man has been a five-time PGA Tour winner, so this kind of performance isn’t entirely new, but the way he’s handling a major is different. He was a fixture at the Masters in April, and he almost chased down Wyndham Clark at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, where Clark started the final round six strokes clear and won by only one. Burns knows what it’s like to be both the hunter and the hunted. He even handled the Bryson DeChambeau circus, his Saturday playing partner, in stride, embracing the pressure while stacking quality shots to get to the top. Bryson, by the way, has two U.S. Open trophies himself, so that was no small task.
The Chase Is On: Can Anyone Steal the Claret Jug?
So, who’s got a shot at reeling him in? Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim are right behind him, with Burns holding that two-stroke cushion. Kim’s game has been rock solid all year, and it’s finally come together in a major. He even feels comfortable with a late tee time on Sunday, despite experiencing some Achilles discomfort. The former Players Championship winner hit 16 greens in regulation, which is just dialed in. But Burns knows a two-stroke lead in a major is paper-thin. He’s seen how one hole, a bad bounce, a pot bunker, or even a ruling like the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont can flip everything on its head.
Burns summed it up perfectly: “Ultimately, it comes down to I can’t control anything anyone else does. Someone’s going to go out and play a great round of golf, maybe a few people. It’s pretty much a given. That happens every single week. So, I’m going to have to do the same. I’m going to have to go out and execute. Ultimately, whatever happens, I know that I can accept the outcome, and life’s going to move on. I’ll get to go home and see my family. I hope I’m taking some hardware with me, but if I’m not, that’s fine, too.” That’s the mindset of a champion, or someone about to become one. The pressure is insane, and DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler are among the seven contenders ready to pounce. Sunday’s final round for the Claret Jug and the title of Champion Golfer of the Year is going to be absolutely wild. You don’t want to miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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