By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
MEDINAH, Ill. – Seems like an ideal pairing, two good friends who happen to be among the world’s very best golfers, representing the USA in international play.
Just hasn’t worked that way for Shreveport native Sam Burns, eighth in the Official World Golf Rankings, and his pal, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
They aim for success today as four-ball partners in the first match of the 2026 Presidents Cup competition at Medinah Country Club in the Chicago metroplex. Tee time is 11:35 against Min Woo Lee (No. 30) of Australia and Sungjae Im (No. 60) of South Korea. Using the OWGR scale, with an 81-point spread, it’s the biggest mismatch in the five four-ball contests today.
Today and Friday, TV coverage of the Presidents Cup is on Golf Channel. Saturday’s coverage starts from 7-8 a.m. before moving to NBC for the rest of the weekend competition, which wraps up Sunday with singles play. Subsequent pairings will be made daily by team captains, the USA’s Brandt Snedeker and Geoff Oglivy for the International team.
Burns recalls being a 13-year-old in Shreveport when he first crossed paths with Dallas native Scheffler in junior golf events. Although they play plenty of practice rounds together during every PGA Tour season, this is the first time since 2023 they’ve been paired at an international event mostly because they were a combined 0-3-1 as partners at the 2022 Presidents Cup and 2023 Ryder Cup.
The separation worked in 2024 with Scheffler and Burns responsible for six points in team play. But at last year’s Ryder Cup, the U.S. got a whopping half-point from the two; Scheffler went 0-4 at Bethpage before winning his singles match.
“Do I think we have unfinished business? I don’t know if I would call it that,” said Burns Tuesday at his media session. “It’s been frustrating the times we have played together, and we feel like we’ve played really well and ultimately not won.”
The most glaring example came in Burns’ professional international debut, the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow. After tying Im and Sebastian Munoz despite making nine birdies and an eagle, the USA’s statistics staff told Burns that he and Scheffler would’ve beaten any other team that day. Instead, Im and Munoz rang up nine birdies as well.
“We’ve played well together. It’s just a matter of earning some points for the U.S. team. It’s been more frustrating than anything,” said Burns, 30, now living in Choudrant, coming off his best season as a pro.
“It’s a comfortable pairing for us. We obviously spend a lot of time together, play a lot of golf together. Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
Burns is thrilled to take part in his fifth consecutive international event on Team USA, his third President’s Cup (all wins) along with two Ryder Cups (American defeats).
“Being able to play for your country and represent 11 other guys and all the captains and all the spouses that are here, I don’t take that lightly. When you’re playing and you’re in your career, these weeks kind of fly by, and one day you really look back and have a ton of appreciation for what it means to represent your country and be on these teams.
“I think all of us on this squad, there’s nothing more we want to do than to go out and win and represent our country well, and that’s the plan this week,” he said.
The proud former LSU two-time All-American has had enough frustration recently. He was tuned into the Tigers’ loss at Ole Miss Saturday night as Heisman Trophy candidate Trinidad Chambliss led the Rebels to a dramatic 32-24 triumph.
“I’m still not over it,” said Burns. “I will say this: Trinidad, he’s a heck of a football player. I knew he was really good before the game and I was even more impressed after.”
Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com