PGA Tour contender snaps driver in anger mid-round, forced to play without one
On Saturday at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Sam Burns was making a strong bid for victory, positioning himself as a serious contender for the title. Starting the day just one stroke off the lead, Burns was poised to make a significant move. His round began solidly, despite two bogeys on the first eight holes, which he countered with four birdies. This performance brought his total score to 12 under par, keeping him in close contention with the leader, Hideki Matsuyama.
Burns’ day seemed to be progressing well as he tackled the third round of the tournament. He demonstrated a commendable level of play through the early part of his round, but the situation took a dramatic turn due to a moment of frustration. On the 9th hole, Burns faced a challenging situation. His drive veered left into a cluster of trees, and the frustration of another wayward shot boiled over.
In an intense display of exasperation, Burns struck his driver against the ground with considerable force. The impact of the club hitting the tee box resulted in a broken driver, with both the clubhead and the shaft breaking off in different directions. This incident was a major setback for Burns, both emotionally and practically, as he now faced the daunting task of completing the round without his driver.
The immediate aftermath of the breakage was a double-bogey 6 on the 9th hole. Burns struggled to recover from his tee shot into the trees, managing only to punch the ball out onto the fairway with his second shot. His subsequent efforts to reach the green were unsuccessful, leading to a frustrating double-bogey that dropped his score to 10 under par. This setback was significant, as it left him four shots behind Matsuyama, who was leading the tournament.
With nine holes remaining and no driver in his bag, Burns had to navigate the back nine under difficult circumstances. Despite the adversity, Burns managed to hold his ground. He recorded three birdies and three bogeys on the back nine, playing even-par golf for the remaining holes. His final score for the round was a 70, leaving him tied for fourth place with Scottie Scheffler at 10 under par. However, the damage from the earlier part of the round meant he was now seven shots behind Matsuyama.
Burns’ ability to finish the round without further major mishaps was a testament to his resilience. Though the driver incident was a significant blow to his chances of winning, his performance allowed him to stay in the mix as the tournament moved into its final round. The challenge now was to make up the considerable deficit and overcome the frustration of the previous day.
