Sam Burns: The Major Champion-in-Waiting

Sam Burns, a 29-year-old American golfer, has been a consistent contender at golf’s four grandest tournaments in recent seasons. His performance at the 2026 Open, where he held a two-stroke lead at the 54-hole mark over eventual winner Ryan Fox, is a testament to his growing prowess.

Burns’ ability to play himself into weekend contention at majors on a more consistent basis has been a topic of discussion among golf enthusiasts. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has spent a lot of time around Burns, believes that the American golfer is on the verge of a major breakthrough.

‘He’s someone I spend so much time around. I know how good he is. Sometimes, you just need to continue to build that experience and put yourself in the positions,’ Scheffler said. ‘He was close at the U.S. Open last year. He was close again at the U.S. Open this year.’

Burns has indeed given himself five legitimate chances to raise one of golf’s most famous trophies since the start of the 2024 season. His name has been on the first page of the leaderboard in crunch time nearly 50% of the time in those 12 tournaments.

However, Burns’ inability to seize the moment and claim a major championship has raised questions about his consistency. Despite his talent and persistence, he has yet to crack the ceiling and put himself in the top tier of golfers.

Burns’ performance at the 2026 Open, where he fired a final-round even-par 72, was a prime example of his struggles. He had the opportunity to force a theoretical playoff but ultimately came up short.

The same could be said for many golfers throughout the sport’s history. Rickie Fowler, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Doug Sanders were all major champions-in-waiting at some point in their careers.

Burns remains optimistic about his chances of winning a major championship. ‘Ultimately, whatever happens, I know that I can accept the outcome, and life’s going to move on,’ he said. ‘I’ll get to go home and see my family. I hope I’m taking some hardware with me, but if I’m not, that’s fine, too.’

As Burns continues to knock on the door of golf immortality, it remains to be seen whether he will finally break through and claim his first major championship.

Key Statistics:

• Burns has given himself five legitimate chances to win a major championship since the start of the 2024 season.
• His name has been on the first page of the leaderboard in crunch time nearly 50% of the time in those 12 tournaments.
• Burns has a winless drought spanning back to the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.