How Sam Burns Ended Up Playing The Open Championship After His Baby Arrived Early

What This Story Is About

A golfer named Sam Burns was not supposed to play in a big golf tournament called The Open Championship. But life had a surprise for him! Here is the simple version of what happened.

• This article was posted 3 days ago (3D AGO).
• It takes about 2 minutes to read.
• It is part of the Latest news from the PGA Tour.
• Written by Paul Hodowanic.

Important Point: Sam Burns had originally planned to stay home and NOT play in The Open Championship because his wife was about to have a baby.

The Baby Surprise

Here is the timeline of events, explained like a story:

1. Sam Burns and his wife Caroline were expecting their second child.
2. The baby’s due date was Tuesday, July 14.
3. Sam thought the U.S. Open (another big tournament) in June would be his last major tournament of the year.
4. But the baby girl, named Belle, was born early on July 3.
5. This opened the door for Sam to possibly play The Open Championship.
6. Still, Sam wasn’t sure if he wanted to fly across the world and leave his one-week-old baby behind.

Getting Ready to Play

Even though the baby came early, Sam needed to make a big decision.

• He asked his friend Scottie Scheffler for advice (Scottie also just had a second child).
• But it was his wife Caroline who encouraged him to go.
• Sam finally decided late last week to make the trip.
• His family stayed in Louisiana, including his parents who help with the kids.
• His two-year-old son Bear is already being a great big brother.

Important Point: Sam said, “I still wasn’t sure if I could get there mentally… you want to be there for them and your family.” Leaving a new baby is a hard choice!

Back on the Golf Course

Sam didn’t swing a golf club for at least four days after Belle was born. But he says he hasn’t felt rusty.

• He arrived in Southport, England (where the tournament is) on Monday.
• He played nine-hole practice rounds each day.
• On Wednesday, he played with Scottie Scheffler.
• At the last hole (hole 18), he hit a 4-iron from 220 yards and landed it safely on the green!

Can He Win?

If Sam keeps playing well, people think he could win this week.

• He was runner-up (second place) at the U.S. Open.
• He got T12 (tied for 12th) at the Travelers Championship.
• He has four top-20 finishes in a row.
• His best ever result at The Open was T31 in 2024.

Sam said: “We only get four of these (majors) a year. If it was a different event, I probably wouldn’t be here.”

Summary

Sam Burns didn’t plan to play The Open Championship because his wife was due with their second child in mid-July. Their daughter Belle arrived early on July 3, and with his wife’s encouragement, Sam flew to England to compete. He practiced lightly, feels good, and is a favorite after strong recent finishes. He’s happy to be there because major tournaments are rare!

FAQ

Who is Sam Burns?

Sam Burns is a professional golfer on the PGA Tour who recently became a dad for the second time.

Why didn’t Sam want to play at first?

His wife was about to have a baby, and he wanted to stay home. The baby’s due date was July 14.

What changed his mind?

His daughter was born early on July 3, and his wife told him to go play.

How has he played lately?

He was second at the U.S. Open, tied 12th at Travelers, and has four straight top-20 finishes.

Where is The Open Championship held?

This year it is in Southport, England, at a course called Royal Birkdale.