Shriners Childrens Open R3: Sam Burns looking to win back-to-back on PGA Tour
The 25-year-old is in a great position to win for the second straight week as Matthew Wolff rediscovered his form.
Sam Burns is in position to claim back-to-back victories on the PGA Tour at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Burns won last week at the Sanderson Farms Championship and is only two strokes behind leader Adam Schenk going into the final day.
The young superstar signed for an opening round of 66 and followed that with a stunning 8-under 63 to catapult himself into contention.
Burns, 25, made three straight birdies from seven as he made the turn at 3-under for his third round but struggled on the back nine.
His putts failed to drop after the turn and then he found the water at the par-5 16th and dropped a shot after a poorly judged approach.
Burns looked visibly annoyed as he left lots of shots out there but carded a 3-under 68 to still be in the hunt for the win.
Schenk leads the way at 18-under after rounds of 64, 65 and 66 and leads Matthew Wolff by one stroke at TPC Summerlin.
Wolff rediscovered his form and reached the clubhouse at 17-under after rounds of 64, 67 and 65 at the par-71 course.
He was one of the most talked about players when he burst onto the scene but has so far struggled to live up to expectations.
Three straight birdies.
Leader @SamBurns66 is showing no signs of slowing down. pic.twitter.com/dW6SBTkR1B— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 9, 2021
He took a break from the game to concentrate on improving his mental health and it seems to have helped him immeasurably.
Through 36 holes Wolff, 22, made 13 birdies and one eagle, his only blemishes a bogey and a triple bogey after one wild tee shot.
Now Wolff is in search of his second PGA Tour victory after he won the 3M Open in July 2019.
"It was pretty gusty out there," Wolff told Sky Sports.
"Luckily on the back nine I turned it on and made a few."
Schenk is being chased by Andrew Putnam, Sungae Im and Chad Ramey who also make up the top 10.
Pin-seeking from 290. @Matthew_Wolff5 got all of it and then some. He's 2 back. pic.twitter.com/DCxo5qHn7p
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 9, 2021
If Burns were to win he would move into the top 10 of the world golf rankings for the first time.
He was previously ranked as low as 163rd earlier this year, and a victory would all but seal his place in the US Presidents Cup side.
Big name players to miss the cut included Rickie Fowler, Paul Casey, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Will Zalatoris and Ian Poulter.
The most striking thing about Reed's missed cut was that he struggled in all facets of the game.
He's scheduled to play next week at the CJ Cup but will need to drastically work on his game in the coming days.
*Ball falls off tee*
Don't say it
Don't say it
Don't say it
"One." pic.twitter.com/oX2KulWpBn— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 8, 2021
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NEXT PAGE: WHO IS SAM BURNS' WIFE?
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