Sam Burns found his moment.
As if two previous wins on the PGA Tour this season weren’t enough, Burns found himself staring down world No. 1 and best buddy Scottie Scheffler on Sunday at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club, looking to nail down his spot among the game’s new elite.
A Texas wind that was blowing disappointment across the golf course, particularly later in the day?
Nothing that a smooth-running 65 couldn’t solve.
Waiting approximately two hours after finishing to see whether the leaders would come back to him or maybe dump the trophy in his lap?
It was fine with Burns, who started the final round seven strokes behind.
Having to beat a guy who had won four times this season and seemed overdue for a birdie since he didn’t make one in regulation on Sunday?
Asked and answered.
By holing a birdie putt from 38 feet off the back of the 18th green on the first playoff hole, Burns won his third PGA Tour event this season, stealing a victory from his friend who started Sunday with a two-stroke lead but struggled throughout the final round on the quick, crusty greens.
“When you start the day seven back … the way that guy is playing right now, who would have ever thought that you'd have a chance seven back? But with the wind we had today and the way the golf course is set up, to go out and shoot the score that I did today was really good,” Burns said.
Between them, Scheffler and Burns, both 25, have seven PGA Tour wins this season, rank first and second, respectively, in FedEx Cup points and look as formidable as a hot Texas summer.
“He’s got all the tools,” Scott Stallings said of Burns.
Burns also has bragging rights against his friend.
“We're probably best friends. But at the same time, I can assure you, he wanted to beat me more than anybody else, and I wanted to beat him more than anybody else, and it just happened to be the two of us at the end,” Burns said.
“It's going to be a fun story that we'll get to have for the rest of our careers, and fortunately I got the better end of it this time, but hopefully we're at the beginning of these situations in the future.”
Ron Green Jr.