Sam Burns concluded the 2026 Open Championship in second place, trailing winner Ryan Fox after holding a two-stroke advantage entering the final round. Burns stood at 10 under par following Saturday’s play and improved to 11 under after the second hole on Sunday, but ultimately finished two strokes worse and was unable to force additional action.
The 29-year-old American has established himself as a consistent major championship contender in recent seasons, regularly finding himself in position to compete for golf’s most prestigious titles. Scottie Scheffler acknowledged Burns’ trajectory during the week, noting his frequent appearances near the top of leaderboards in major events and highlighting his participation in recent Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams. Scheffler characterized Burns as talented and suggested it was a matter of time before he secured a major victory.
Since the start of the 2024 season, Burns has positioned himself for legitimate chances in five major championships across 12 tournaments, appearing on the first page of leaderboards in contention nearly half the time. His results include a final-round 80 at Royal Troon in 2024, a 54-hole lead that deteriorated at Oakmont, and a final-round 67 at the U.S. Open earlier in the year that fell short despite closing a seven-stroke deficit. His most recent Masters appearance showed sustained competitiveness throughout the tournament.
The contrast between Burns’ consistent excellence and his winless drought dating to the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play raises questions about the nature of major championship success. Recent winners including Fox, Wyndham Clark, and Aaron Rai reached the winners’ circle despite minimal prior major tournament success, suggesting that seizing the moment matters as much as accumulating experience. Burns acknowledged the balance required, stating his acceptance of outcomes while expressing hope to return home with hardware.