Sam Burns: Why the future is so BRIGHT for this young star of the PGA Tour
"I learned a lot. Having that under my belt today, that experience, was definitely helpful. Coming down the stretch, felt a lot different than I have in the past."
The facial hair may have changed but the player remains the same, just how good can he get?
Sam Burns is now a two-time winner on the PGA Tour after his one-stroke victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
His blistering four rounds saw him race to 22-under and overcome a three-stroke deficit in the final round to cap off an emotional victory.
Eight birdies in 24 holes showed us why this young American's first breakout season on the PGA Tour was absolutely no fluke.
The numbers just speak for themselves. Burns led the field at the Country Club of Jackson in strokes gained off the tee and was second in approach.
Had he not missed the green up the 18th, he would have lead in approaches too.
His second victory of the calendar year marks a period in which he has constantly put himself into contention.
SG: Off-the-Tee: 1st
SG: Tee-to-Green: 1st
SG: Approach-the-Green: 2nd@SamBurns66 put on a ball-striking clinic @Sanderson_Champ. pic.twitter.com/6XeRdtfmqY— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 4, 2021
So much so that he was seriously considered for the Ryder Cup team. Not that it mattered, it would have taken divine intervention to stop the Americans at Wisconsin.
Burns finished third at the Genesis Invitational in February despite leading for much of the tournament. He followed that good showing with a victory at the Valspar Championship in April before losing in a three-man playoff at WGC-FedEx St. Jude.
His are not the results of someone blowing hot and cold but someone who is very much in the middle of a steady ascension to the top to become one of the very best.
What makes Burns, 25, so good is the fact he probably doesn't know how good he is. Everything about his demeanour suggests someone who is always in the middle of a plan he is trying to execute.
He's a humble guy, too. Burns doesn't seem to be caught up in the bubble of what can happen when you're in the middle of tour life. He doesn't say stupid things and is constantly reminded of the more important things in life. This helps his golf.
Twice as nice for @SamBurns66.
The 25-year-old LSU alum is a 2-time winner on TOUR. pic.twitter.com/505WbKhKwB— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 3, 2021
He wore yellow on Sunday for his six-week-old nephew who is currently in hospital in Dallas, Texas, battling spinal meningitis. He's been there for two weeks, Burns said and is unsure how long he will be there.
It depends which way you look at it but you could argue that Burns' near-misses could be described as opportunities squandered. The flat stick has at times been an issue for Burns but even the best players in the history of the game have struggled to find form in that department.
"I think last year having those experiences around the lead, I think those were really important for me," Burns told Golfweek.
"I learned a lot. Having that under my belt today, that experience, was definitely helpful. Coming down the stretch, felt a lot different than I have in the past.
"Not necessarily more confident, but just in a better state of mind. (My) thinking process is much better. Those experiences definitely helped."
Burns has a killer instinct about him and at Sanderson Farms he proved to the field he could make this game look incredibly easy. Birdies at 11, 13, 14 and 15 showed when he gets hot he really gets hot.
The future is bright for Burns but the only question is: just how good can he get?
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