JOURNAL SPORTS
GUIDOIA MONTECELIO, Italy – Sam Burns didn’t wait at all to get into action in his first Ryder Cup.
Burns was teamed with his good friend, the world’s No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, as the lead American tandem to open the 44th Ryder Cup competition with Europe early this morning at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club 10 miles from Rome.
Burns, a native Shreveporter and graduate of Calvary Baptist Academy, and Scheffler went out first for the USA in the four-ball alternating shot format matching two-man teams in four Friday morning matches.
In a match that teed off today at 12:35 a.m. Central time (7:35 in Rome), Burns-Scheffler were overwhelmed by brilliant play from world No. 3 Jon Rahm of Spain and Englishman Tyrell Hatton, with that match setting an early tone in the three-day competition featuring five rounds. Team competitions are today and Saturday with 12 singles matches Sunday to determine the outcome.
Burns-Scheffler were able to win only one hole in a 4&3 defeat in the morning session that was all Europe, producing a 4-0 lead. The Europeans won 22 holes to just 10 by the Americans, featuring a Viktor Hovland chip-in and Rahm’s near ace in the first nine holes of the session.
Europe led all four matches throughout the morning on the way to its first clean sweep in the opening session of a Ryder Cup. Americans had done it just three times, and only once this century, in 2016.
“We switched the format this year to go foursomes first, as that’s where we’re strongest, and all we’ve been talking about this week is getting off to a fast start,” said Irishman Rory McIlroy. “We were ready to go from the first tee shot.”
Burns was among four USA players who sat out afternoon play, as team captain Zach Johnson – in an apparent pre-determined rotation – used all 12 of his team members on the first day of competition.
Team USA has not won on European soil since 1993, but routed Europe 19-9 in 2021 at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
That year, Burns was left off the American roster by then-captain Steve Stricker, but this time around, Johnson gave the former LSU All-American one of his six captain’s slots on the 12-man roster.
There was no doubt that Burns, who now lives in Choudrant and is based out of Squire Creek Country Club near Ruston, was thrilled at the chance to represent America in golf’s most prestigious team competition.
This week, he made it obvious to anyone who saw him. Burns had a friend back home carve the letters U-S-A into the right side of his scalp, above his ear, with a straight razor. He unveiled the look, which combines with a healthy blonde mullet that he’s cultivated during most of the recently-completed PGA Tour season.
Burns said he has gotten plenty of haircuts this summer, but “just I haven’t cut the back,” he admitted in a Wednesday media session.
“He’s got great hair,” said Johnson. “I mean, I’d do it if I could do it. I just don’t have any hair to do it.”
Said teammate Brooks Koepka: “Sam has got a nice Kentucky waterfall going. It’s pretty solid, although the ‘USA’ that’s inscribed in the side of his head, I don’t know if he was doing that looking in a mirror because ‘USA’ doesn’t look the best, but it makes it even better.”
Burns explained his motivation.
“Coming into this year, making this team was very high on my goal list, I guess you could call it,” he said.
Burns is not new to international team competition. He was part of the USA’s 2014 Junior Ryder Cup Team (a combined boys and girls roster) that posted a 16-8 win over Europe in Scotland, and played for his country in the 2022 President’s Cup, won 17 ½ to 12 ½ over the International team.
Burns is the fourth Shreveport-Bossier product to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Tommy Bolt played in 1955 and 1957. Hal Sutton teed it up the Ryder Cup in 1985, 1987, 1999 and 2002. David Toms was a teammate of Sutton’s in 2002, played for Sutton’s 2004 team (Sutton captained that squad) and played again in 2006.
Two other Louisiana golf greats, brothers Jay and Lionel Hebert from Lafayette, made Ryder Cup squads in 1957 (Lionel), 1959 and 1961 (Jay). Current LIV Golf pro Patrick Reed, who graduated from high school in Baton Rouge, made the roster in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Burns’ putting ability, and his strong friendship with Scheffler, made him a popular choice to partner with the Dallas native in the Ryder Cup. Scheffler has struggled putting all season long, and although he ranks No. 1 on the Tour in most statistical categories, he did not win a tournament all summer long after a pair of early-season triumphs.
The two pals, who met on the junior golf circuit and bonded, did partner in the 2022 President’s Cup, with Burns going 0-3-2 and scoring one point, but observers agreed that was mostly due to Scheffler being badly out of form as they partnered in all but the closing singles play.