Sam Burns came from behind to win in the second playoff hole over childhood rival and former Junior Davis Cup teammate, Davis Riley, on March 20 in Palm Beach, Florida.
He successfully defended his title in the Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.
Burns began the final round three strokes behind the overnight 54-hole leader Riley at 18-under, but Riley gave up the lead with a triple bogey on the par-5 hole #5.
Burns birdied #5, #11, #12, and bogeyed #17 to shoot a final round 2-under for a 17-under total score to win his third career tour event, with rounds of 64, 67, 67, and 69.
Burns ties Patrick Cantlay, Cameron Smith, and Hideki Matsuyama with the most wins since the 2021 calendar season.
Burns’s sole bogey came on #17 and resulted from a pulled tee shot into the green side bunker. After a short bunker shot, his chip shot left ended nine feet from the hole, but he was able to make the bogey-saving pressure putt.
In the final group following Burns, Riley rallied with a great tee-shot on #17 to make a birdie and tie Burns at 17-under.
“I didn’t want to root against Davis, never want to do that,” Burns told GolfTV. After giving up the lead with a bogey on the par-three #17 hole and missing birdie opportunities in regulation on the final holes, “I just wanted to have a chance to defend one more time,” he said.
Riley confirmed that he and Burns, both 25 years old, had competed against one another since “11 or 12 years old.” They were teammates ranked first and second on the 2014 Junior Davis Cup team representing the USA, before being college competitors.
Besides the triple-bogey on #5, Riley made three birdies on #8, #11, #17, and a bogey on #12, for a final round 1-over in his 25th career tour event, with scores of 65, 68, 62, and 72.
“Very solid week, a lot to build on,” Riley told GolfTV. “I can’t hang my head about anything. Played a lot of good golf, and unfortunately, I didn’t have my best stuff today, and stumbled on hole #5.”
On the first playoff hole at the 18th, Burns nearly made a 35-foot birdie putt, while Riley recovered for par after landing in the bunker with his approach shot.
On the following playoff hole at #16, Burns hit a hybrid just into the left rough, while Riley hit a controlled fade with his driver into the fairway.
With a back flag location, Burns had 192 yards to the flag and hit the left-center of the green, rolling past the left edge of the green in the first cut of grass.
Riley followed with a 175-yard approach with an eight-iron that ended a few feet in the first cut of rough. He was 23 of 27 in scrambling for the week.
Burns was further away, and remarkably made his long birdie putt of over 32 feet, that lipped-in from the left edge of the hole and spun around the right side before dropping in the hole, while Riley was was unable to chip in to force a tie.
“It was a blast,” said Burns as emotion overcame him. He thanked his support team of his wife Caroline Campbell, his caddy Travis Perkins, and swing coach.
After the first round, the Louisiana native who played college golf at LSU shot 7-under, and stated that, “Getting to play golf for a living is really cool, and it’s an honor.”
But he said he maintains his perspective on life.
“For me, it’s my faith,” said Burns. “At the end of the day, golf is a game. There are a lot more important things going on in the world.”
Justin Thomas tied for third was also in early contention in a three-way tie for the lead, but was unable to convert on several opportunities for birdies with his putting. Thomas shot a final round one-under after three rounds of 5-under for 16 under total.
Matthew NeSmith also finished at 16 under for third after having the 36-hole lead with opening rounds of 67 and course-competition record of 61. His final rounds were 69 and 71 but he stated he had made a breakthrough in freeing his mental game.
Brian Harman made three birdies in a row, holes 11–13, to get to 14 under, to tie Matt Fitzpatrick for fifth.
Brooks Koepka had the low round of the day with a 65, and finished tied for 12th at 11-under.
