JOURNAL SPORTS
PEBBLE BEACH, Cal. – Sam Burns started the 2025 PGA Tour campaign with a solid 4-under 68 Thursday in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
The Shreveport native and Calvary Baptist graduate, an All-American and collegiate player of the year at LSU, carded three birdies in his first seven holes at Pebble Beach Golf Links before a bogey on the tough par-4 8th hole that PGA Tour legend Fred Couples recently called “the toughest hole in golf.”
Burns, now living in Choudrant and playing out of Squire Creek Country Club, carded 34 on both sides. He birdied the iconic 18th hole, reaching the green in two, to finish tied for 23rd on the leaderboard after the opening round.
The 28-year-old will tee off at 10:48 a.m. CST (8:48 PST) today at Spyglass Hill, paired with J.T. Poston and their amateur playing partners in the unique format that was hosted for decades by entertainer Bing Crosby. The tournament began in 1937 with Crosby as the anchor for 40 years.
Burns is doubtlessly enjoying his partner – country music superstar singer and songwriter Eric Church, a 15-handicap. Amateurs pay about $70,000 to play in the tournament.
Golf Channel will have live coverage from 3-7 p.m. today with CBS picking up coverage Saturday and Sunday.