Sam Burns makes comment about Wyndham Clark winning the US Open after narrowly losing to him on the final day
Sam Burns has heaped praise on Wyndham Clark after the pair finished in the top two at the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday.
Clark has become a two-time US Open champion after just about getting across the line in New York.
It was certainly difficult to imagine the drama that would unfold over the final few hours of the third major of the year. Clark had begun the last round with a six-shot lead over the chasing pack.
Many were understandably looking to Scottie Scheffler to take the fight to Clark, particularly with the world number one playing alongside the 32-year-old in the final group.
But it would prove to be Sam Burns who pushed Clark all the way in Southampton.
Sam Burns reacts to Wyndham Clark’s performance at the US Open
While Clark made five bogeys on Sunday, Burns was able to post a score of 67 to pile the pressure on. It was also clear from the early stages that Burns was the player the fans wanted to see emerge victorious.
Admittedly, many spectators were mostly desperate to see anyone other than Clark win.
But Burns has shown his class by lauding Clark after his second major victory.
“I think to start the day seven shots back, I knew it was going to take something really special, and I think I couldn’t have asked for a better start. Four-under through eight. Just mishit the six-iron on nine a little and came up short there,” he said.
“Then I feel like the back nine was playing difficult. I don’t know if the statistics back that up or not, but just trying to get the ball close to some of those hole locations with the wind just felt tough.
“You know, once I three-putted 15, I felt like I needed at least one or two on the last three holes. I holed the putt on 16, which was nice, and then 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. I hit it exactly how I wanted with the speed I wanted and just didn’t go in, but really proud of the way we played today.
“I think to start the day, I really wanted to try to get to four or five. I thought that’s what it would take.
“You know, to Wyndham’s credit, he played amazing all week. That was really impressive golf that he played the first three rounds. Even today, I mean, I know he shot, whatever, a couple over par, but it was playing really difficult this afternoon. You know, he did the right things when he needed to. He’s a well-deserved champion.”
Sam Burns comments on another near miss at the US Open
It is, unfortunately, not the first time that Burns has had to deal with real disappointment after a Sunday at the US Open.
He had led after the second and third rounds of last year’s event at Oakmont. A nightmare back nine dashed his hopes of winning a first ever major championship.
Burns was asked after his latest display about how he feels this year in comparison to what happened 12 months ago.
“I would say last year at Oakmont I felt more I lost the golf tournament. I certainly don’t feel that way today,” he said.
“I think I did my best, and I did everything I could to have a chance to win today. Like I said, I started the day seven shots back. That’s very difficult to overcome, especially someone who is playing as well as Wyndham has been playing. That was really the difference today.
“If I would have been a little bit closer and maybe could have got ahead of him at some point, I think there could have been a different outcome possibly, but at the end of the day, he played amazing, and it was his week. You got to tip your cap to him.”
Burns has now finished inside the top 10 at the last three US Opens. So he will certainly be one name to watch out for at Pebble Beach next year.
