Valspar R1 | Sam Burns continues gripes with USGA over issues with his driver

Sam Burns says he wasn't too pleased with the lack of transparency from the USGA after revealing his driver was found to be non-conforming. 

Burns is attempting to defend the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour. He's also trying to tick off a rare three-peat. 

He opened up his defence with a solid enough 2-under par 69 playing alongside Jordan Spieth and Gary Woodland. 

Related: Sam Burns slams 'silly' golf ball rollback proposal

Despite turning in 4-under Burns had to settle for what was at the time three strokes off the early lead after dropping shots at No. 5 and No. 7. 

Burns' numbers in the driving department weren't exactly anything remarkable. He averaged 312.1 yards off the tee and found seven of 13 fairways. 

Still, it was nice for Burns to finally have a driver that feels comfortable. He's spent the last few weeks searching for one. 

Burns has been struggling somewhat of late, missing the cut at Tiger Woods' Genesis Invitational and then the Players Championship. 

For full context, here’s the entire exchange Burns had with a member of the media about his driver woes:

Q. They were mentioning on the play by play on the radio you had spent a few weeks looking for a driver. How difficult a journey is that? And where are you in that process?

SAM BURNS: "Yeah, I've found one that I really like now. Unfortunately, I had one that the USGA failed, and let's see, that was at L.A.

"So that was a tough couple weeks, trying to figure out something I like.

"You come out here and you need something you're comfortable with, especially when the wind starts blowing.

"So I shouldn't really have that for a couple weeks, but now I found something I really love, and so I'm excited."

Q. Same model as you were playing?

SAM BURNS: "Different model."

Q. Are you in the new Callaway?

SAM BURNS: "Yeah. Yeah."

Q. Did the other one, did the face just thin out over time?

SAM BURNS: "Yeah. I guess. They said it failed by one point. So I don't really know what that means. Not a lot of transparency there. But, yeah, the new one's really good."

Burns' playing partner Spieth opened up his week with a bogey-free 67.

As for the three-peat, Burns was asked how much it was playing on his mind. 

He said:

England's Matthew Fitzpatrick had a nightmare start as he carded a nine (!) on the par-4 third hole at Innisbrook Resort. 

He was left to rue a golf fan finding his ball out of bounds on the par-4 3rd. 

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