How Sam Burns’ Wife Helped Him Get to the Brink of Open Glory

Sam Burns Is One Round Away From a Dream

Imagine your favorite sports hero is just one big game away from winning the most important trophy of their life. That’s exactly where golfer Sam Burns is right now!

• Sam is 29 years old.
• He is playing in the 154th Open Championship (a super important golf tournament sometimes called "The Open").
• The tournament is happening at a place called Royal Birkdale in England.
• After the first three rounds, Sam is ahead by two shots (think of it like being two points in front).
• If he wins the final round on Sunday, he gets the famous Claret Jug trophy and his first ever "major" win (a major is one of golf’s biggest championships).
• He has won five PGA Tour events before (the PGA Tour is the main professional golf league in the U.S.), but never a major. He has come close before but just missed out.

Important Point: Sam was actually planning to stay home and NOT play in this tournament—but a few surprising things changed his mind!

Why Sam Almost Stayed Home

Here is the simple version of what almost happened:

• Sam and his wife Caroline were expecting their second baby just days before The Open.
• Because of that, Sam planned to stay at home in Shreveport, Louisiana (a state in the U.S.) instead of flying across the ocean to England.
• But their daughter Belle was born earlier than expected—on July 3.
• That gave Sam a chance to travel after all.
• Even then, he wasn’t sure. It was Caroline who said: "I’ve got this at home. Go over there and give it your best."
• So Sam flew to England, and now he is leading the tournament!

Sam’s wife and two kids are not at the golf course. They are watching from their home in Choudrant, Louisiana.

Who Is Sam Burns’ Wife?

Sam is married to Caroline Campbell—his childhood sweetheart.

• They first met in church in Shreveport, Louisiana, when they were only 5 years old.
• They went to different high schools but stayed friends.
• Later, they both went to Louisiana State University (LSU) and started dating there.
• Sam has said: "I always kinda knew she was the one."

When Did Sam and Caroline Get Married?

Here is how the proposal and wedding went:

1. After dating for about five years, Sam proposed in 2019 at a golf event called the RBC Heritage.
2. Before proposing, Sam asked Caroline’s dad for permission (a polite old-school way to show respect).
3. They shared the engagement news on Instagram (a photo-sharing app).
4. They got married later, and Caroline became a regular smiling face at Sam’s tournaments.

Sam once said: "I hope that we’ll have many years together and grow old together…"

Do Sam and Caroline Have Children?

Yes! They are parents to two children:

• Bear (their son) was born in 2023.
• Belle (their daughter) was born on July 3, 2026, just before The Open.

Belle’s early arrival is a big reason Sam is in England right now.

• Sam had planned to skip both the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open to be home for the birth.
• His mom even said after Sam’s close loss at the 2026 U.S. Open that he probably wouldn’t go to Europe.
• He did skip the Scottish Open, but after Belle came early, Caroline told him to go play.
• Now he is one round from a huge win!

Who Is Caroline Burns?

Caroline likes to keep a low profile (that means she doesn’t seek fame).

• She was born on April 8, 1996.
• She grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, with two brothers.
• She went to C.E. Byrd High School, did athletics, and competed in track and field (running/throwing sports).
• She later went to LSU.
• She is often seen walking at golf tournaments, cheering for Sam during good and bad times.

A Close-Knit Golfing Friendship

The Burns family is good friends with another famous golf couple:

• Scottie Scheffler (the world’s No. 1 golfer) and his wife Meredith.
• The two families hang out together when not playing golf.
• Both couples have young kids, making their bond even stronger.

The Perfect Response After U.S. Open Heartbreak

Before The Open, Sam had a tough moment:

• At the U.S. Open (another major), he finished one shot behind winner Wyndham Clark.
• He got emotional talking about his dad, Todd, who said he was proud despite the loss.

But Sam bounced back amazingly:

• He shot a 62 on Friday and a 65 on Saturday—the lowest back-to-back 36-hole score ever in a men’s major.
• He is now at 10-under-par (that’s really good!).
• He leads by two shots over Ryan Fox and Si Woo Kim.
• Big names like Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Åberg, and Scheffler are still close behind.

Important Point: If Belle hadn’t been born early AND Caroline hadn’t pushed him to go, Sam would be watching The Open on TV instead of leading it!

Summary

Sam Burns is 18 holes away from winning his first major at The Open. He almost didn’t come because his wife Caroline was about to have a baby. Their daughter Belle arrived early, and Caroline told Sam to chase his dream. Now he leads by two shots. Caroline is his childhood sweetheart from Louisiana, they have two kids, and they are close friends with Scottie Scheffler’s family. Sam’s early-year disappointment at the U.S. Open makes this story even sweeter.

FAQ

1. Who is Sam Burns’ wife?
She is Caroline Campbell, his childhood friend and wife whom he met at age five in Louisiana.

2. Why wasn’t Sam Burns going to play The Open?
His second child was due right before the tournament, so he planned to stay home with his family.

3. How did Sam end up playing?
Their daughter Belle was born early on July 3, and Caroline encouraged him to travel and compete.

4. How many kids do Sam and Caroline have?
Two—son Bear (born 2023) and daughter Belle (born 2026).

5. What is Sam’s lead at The Open?
He is two shots ahead after three rounds, at 10-under-par.