Rough third round dampens Burns’ Masters’ weekend

WEEKEND WOES:  Shreveport native Sam Burns fell out of contention in the weekend rounds of The Masters. (Photo courtesy Augusta National Golf Club)

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The brutal weather conditions during the third round of The Masters Saturday and Sunday morning didn’t work out well for Sam Burns, who fell out of contention and ultimately finished in a 29th-place tie.

The Shreveport native was in the top 10 of the tournament for most of the first two rounds, getting as low as 6-under par and a brief fourth-place tie, but a third-round 78 – capped by a triple-bogey 7 on the par-4 18th hole, on the heels of two straight birdies – pushed him over par and out of the mix.

Burns carded an even-par 72 Sunday afternoon in the final round, but had flashes of brilliance. He eagled the par-5 second hole, making a 6-foot putt, and finished birdie-birdie, making a 12-footer on 17 and a 15-footer on the final green. His 18th-hole birdie was one of only three on the finishing hole Sunday.

The former Calvary Baptist standout and LSU All-American’s round Sunday faded on Amen Corner, when he bogied all three holes. He did birdie the par-5 15th to start a closing run that brought him from 4-over to a final four-round total of 1-over par.

Burns, who now lives in Choudrant and plays out of Squire Creek Country Club, finished the tournament with 21 birdies and two eagles, but carded 18 bogies and three double-bogies, along with the triple bogey.

He had a $127,800 payday in 29th. Winner Jon Rahm collected $3.25 million – not as much as Burns made two weeks ago when he took home $3.5 million after winning the World Golf Championships-Match Play crown in Austin.