Sam Burns Missed The US Open By A Half-Inch, And It’s The Rawest Quote You’ll Hear

Dude, you gotta hear about Sam Burns at the US Open. What an absolute gut punch! He was right there, practically tasting the championship, but came up one shot short of Wyndham Clark. We’re talking a half-inch miss on the 18th hole for a birdie putt that would’ve tied it up. He tossed his putter, fell to his knees, and the whole crowd groaned. You could feel it through the screen, man. The championship was *that* close!

The Gut-Wrenching Miss That Defined the Day

Can you even imagine that? A half-inch! Burns shot a 67 on Sunday, finishing 3 under for the tournament, putting him one stroke behind Clark. He honestly thought he made that putt. Sitting in the scoring tent, letting out an exasperated sigh, head in his hands, he had to watch as Clark sealed the deal. Clark birdied 16, bogeyed 17, then two-putted 18 to snatch the win by that single shot Burns couldn't quite get. Burns was chasing all day, man. It’s brutal to come up one short.

Not the Same Heartbreak as Last Year

This kind of heartbreak isn't new for Burns. Remember last year at Oakmont? He *led* after two rounds, played in the final group on Sunday, and it all fell apart in the rain, shooting a 78 and dropping to a tie for seventh. Talk about a nightmare! But this time, man, it felt different. He started Sunday seven

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shots back of Clark, at even par, but went on a tear, birdying three of his first eight holes. He blew past Scottie Scheffler and others, surging into second. He knew it needed something special, and he got a perfect start. When Clark bogeyed three of his first seven, it got tight. Still, Burns could never quite pull into a tie, and a three-putt on No. 15 put him in a tough spot. He felt that back nine was just brutal. But here’s the kicker: Clark shot the same 35 on the back nine. Burns isn't blaming himself the same way. He said, “The guy who played the best won.” He doesn’t feel like he lost it this time. He gave it his best shot, did everything he could. On Father’s Day, after all that, his dad, Tom, came over on the driving range and said he was proud. Burns got choked up talking about how special it could have been. You know his wife, Caroline, is 37 weeks pregnant with their second kid? He was even playing with his 2-year-old son, Bear, while waiting for Clark to finish. That’s real perspective, right? He even said it himself: “As a competitor, you want to go out there and compete as hard as you can and try to win. But at the end of the day, when you’re off the golf course, it’s really not that important and family is a lot more important than golf.” You gotta respect that. What a competitor, and what a reminder about what truly matters. We'll be watching for him next time, no doubt!

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