Sam Burns nearly skipped The Open after his daughter’s birth, but a late family push sent the red-hot contender to Royal Birkdale chasing his first major title.
Sam Burns wasn’t supposed to be at the 2026 Open Championship.
He expected to be home in Louisiana, helping his wife, Caroline, with their newborn daughter and settling into life as a family of four.
Then Belle Burns changed the schedule.
The couple’s second child arrived July 3, nearly two weeks before her July 14 due date.
That unexpected timing gave Burns a chance to reconsider Royal Birkdale, but booking a flight wasn’t the difficult part.
Leaving his wife, newborn daughter and two-year-old son, Bear, behind was.
Burns wrestled with the decision even after Caroline encouraged him to play. He also spoke with close friend Scottie Scheffler, who recently welcomed a second child of his own.
Ultimately, the opportunity to compete in one of golf’s four major championships proved too important to ignore.
“We only get four of these a year,” Burns said, admitting he probably would’ve stayed home for a regular PGA Tour event.
Burns made the call late last week, arrived in Southport on Monday and immediately began rebuilding his tournament routine.
He hadn’t touched a club for at least four days after Belle’s birth, hardly ideal preparation for a demanding links test featuring firm turf, punishing rough and unpredictable coastal weather.
The early returns have been encouraging.
Burns played nine-hole practice rounds Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
During Wednesday’s session with Scheffler, he finished the back nine by drilling a 4-iron from approximately 220 yards onto the 18th green.
It was only one practice swing, but it suggested the layoff hadn’t erased the form that has made Burns one of golf’s hottest players.
Burns finished runner-up at the U.S. Open, followed that performance with a tie for 12th at the Travelers Championship and has posted four consecutive top-20 finishes.
He also narrowly missed forcing a playoff at the Memorial Tournament.
His Open Championship résumé remains incomplete. Burns’ best finish is a tie for 31st in 2024, and Royal Birkdale will demand more patience, imagination and shot-making than the average American venue.
Still, this appearance already feels different.
Burns crossed an ocean only days after welcoming his daughter because major opportunities are scarce, careers move quickly and chances to contend can vanish without warning.
He wasn’t planning to chase the Claret Jug this week. Now he could be one of the most dangerous players in the field.
