Samuel “Sam” Holland Burns of Louisiana, United States almost won the 2026 US Open. He was runner-up to Wyndham Robert Clark, a native of Denver, Colorado, USA and a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
Organized by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA), the tournament was held at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, USA from June 18–21, 2026. It was the 126th edition of the national open golf championship of the country and the sixth time it was hosted at the club.
2026 US Open
While Clark ultimately walked away with the 2026 US Open trophy, it was Burns who authored the most thrilling narrative of the final round. Mounting a furious final-round charge, the five-time PGA Tour winner fell just one stroke short of forcing a playoff, securing a solo second-place finish that marks the finest major championship performance of his career.
Entering the final round, Burns faced what many considered an insurmountable deficit. He sat seven strokes behind Clark, who appeared to be cruising toward a comfortable wire-to-wire victory. However, Shinnecock Hills has a reputation for punishing complacency, and Burns arrived at the first tee determined to apply pressure early.
Burns ignited his comeback immediately, dismantling the front nine with precision iron play and a hot putter. He birdied three of his first five holes and picked up a fourth birdie at the eighth hole. As he surged, Clark stumbled with three early bogeys, causing the commanding lead to evaporate.
Despite a minor setback with a bogey on the difficult ninth, Burns made the turn at 3-under par for the tournament, remarkably pulling within a single shot of the lead and turning a projected coronation into a genuine dogfight. The back nine developed into a high-stakes chess match. Clark briefly extended his cushion with a birdie on the 10th, while Burns suffered a costly dropped shot on the 15th after missing a short par putt. Showing the resilience that has defined his professional career, Burns bounced back instantly on the par-5 16th, rolling in a critical birdie putt to keep the pressure firmly on the leader.
On the par-4 18th green, Burns faced a lengthy birdie putt that would have locked in a tie at 4-under par. The ball narrowly shaved the edge of the cup, leaving him with a final-round 3-under 67 and a 72-hole total of 3-under par 277. Clark managed to par the last hole to secure the title by the slimmest of margins.
While the near-miss undoubtedly stings, the performance represents a massive milestone for Burns. After enduring a heartbreaking final-round 8-over par while leading the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont, this runner-up finish—earning him a substantial $2.43 million prize—solidifies his evolution into an elite major contender. Leaving New York, he proved he has the grit to conquer the toughest stages in golf.
Sam Burns
Burns is a resident of Choudrant, Louisiana. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to Todd Burns and Beth Burns.
Sam attended Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He made his professional golf debut in 2017.
In 2024, Sam’s wife Caroline Burns gave birth to their first child Bear Burns. Sam and Collin Morikawa tied for seventh at the 2026 Masters Tournament, which was held in Augusta, Georgia, USA from April 9-12, 2026.
On July 23, 2026, Sam will turn 30. He is 6’1″ tall.
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