Sam Burns Was ONE Stroke From U.S. Open Glory: Shinnecock Hills Showed Everyone He's Not The Golfer You Remember

Alright, golf fans, you gotta hear about Sam Burns at the U.S. Open. He was literally a single shot away from glory at Shinnecock Hills, and yeah, it hurts to be that close, but trust me, this week was a MASSIVE win for him. After the absolute nightmare of last year, what Burns did on Sunday wasn't just impressive, it was a full-blown redemption arc, proving he's got that major mettle we've been waiting for.

The Heartbreak on 17 and 18

Can you even imagine? Burns was locked in, making a clutch birdie on the 16th to get within one stroke of Wyndham Clark. Then, he had two amazing chances, two birdie looks on the 17th and 18th to tie Clark at 4 under. The pressure was insane, and he just barely missed. A "weak effort" on No. 17, and then a "painful miss on the right lip" on No. 18. He literally collapsed to his knees, knowing he probably hadn't done enough. "Hit a really good shot in there on 17, and just a terrible read and not a very good putt. Then to have the chance on 18, I really thought I made that putt," Burns said. "I hit it exactly how I wanted with the speed I wanted and just didn't go in." Clark ended up taking his second U.S. Open title, going wire-to-wire at 4 under and beating Burns by that agonizing single shot. Even though he didn't lift the trophy, Burns was proud. "Really proud of the way we played today. I think, to start the day, I really wanted to try to get to 4 or 5 [under]. I thought that's what it would

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The Ghost of Oakmont Vanishes

Here's the real story, the one that makes this performance so huge. Just 12 months ago, at the 2025 U.S. Open in Oakmont, Burns was the 54-hole leader heading into Sunday. He had a complete meltdown under pressure, shooting an 8 over round that was the fourth-worst among 66 golfers that day. He finished T7, but the lasting image was him desperately trying to get relief from standing water on the 15th, only to make a double bogey. That 78 was brutal, a total collapse. For years, Burns has been a quality PGA Tour player, even winning five times from 2021-23, but he never truly factored into the majors. People questioned if he had that "extra gear." Oakmont was Exhibit A for the doubters. But now? He silenced a lot of those whispers. "I would say, last year at Oakmont, I felt more [like] I lost the golf tournament. I certainly don't feel that way today," Burns stated. "I think I did my best, and I did everything I could to have a chance to win today. I started the day seven shots back. That's very difficult to overcome, especially [against] someone who is playing as well as Wyndham has been playing." This isn't just about a close finish, Seattle. This is about Burns staring down his past and proving he belongs in the conversation. He started seven shots back and fought all the way to the final putts. That's the kind of grit we love to see. He might not have the trophy, but he earned something even more valuable: respect and belief in himself as a major contender. Keep an eye on this guy, he's just getting started.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.