Sam Burns arrived at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play quietly. He survived a perilous semi-final against Scottie Scheffler before beating Cameron Young in the final.

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Burns has had the same trainer, Brad Pullin, for years, and lives a quiet life with his wife, Caroline, in the small village of Choudrant, Louisiana, where they moved into a new home late last year. . He did not participate in the Netflix documentary series "Full Swing" and will not participate in the second season either. In a way, he was therefore in his element, even though he had never played here before.

Amid the usual chaos of WGC-Dell Match Play, Burns was the epitome of tranquility and impeccable putting when he beat Cameron Young, 6 and 5, for the title at Austin Country Club on Sunday.

The champ hugged Caroline on the 13th green as her delighted parents Todd and Beth looked on in front of an armada of party boats on Lake Austin.

« I feel like I've gained a bit more confidence as the games go on." said burns.

Rory McIlroy beat Scottie Scheffler, 2 and 1, in the consolation match.

Five of the top six seeds made it to the Round of XNUMX, which is why no one paid attention to Burns.

His season was so lackluster that his sixth-place finish in the Valspar Championship, which he had won twice, was considered a highlight. He explained his turnaround by a change of driver – the old one having been deemed non-compliant – and by his work with coach Pullin.

Playing for a newly designed trophy here, he fell behind early in the championship game when Young birdied the second hole. But Burns found another speed, birding eight in the space of 10 holes to take the win.

“No one could have beaten him today" , said Young, last year's PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year, who finished second overall for the sixth time and is still looking for his first win.

Burns added : “I struggled a bit with my swing at the start of this four-week period. I worked a lot with my coach, Brad Pullin, and I'm very grateful to him for all the work he did with me and for being by my side all this time. There are so many people who have helped me throughout my journey”

It's the fifth PGA Tour win for Burns, who started the week 52nd on the FedExCup but caught fire here with 48 birdies and just 10 bogeys and a double bogey.

Still, he looked unlikely to reach the championship game when he found himself trailing 2-6 in his Sunday morning semi-final against compatriot Scottie Scheffler. Burns fought back and took the lead on the 18th hole, but Scheffler birdied to force a playoff. Once again Burns looked set to be knocked out, with Scheffler attempting a 4-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.

To everyone's surprise, Scheffler missed his putt and Burns birdied the third extra hole to win the game.

“He gave me a gift”, said Burns 

Burns admitted that it was during this match that he needed a pep talk from his caddy, Travis Perkins.

https://twitter.com/DellMatchPlay/status/1640168235147358208

"This week is as exhausting mentally as it is physically", said burns. « I think after 10 holes this morning, my caddy, Travis, kicked me in the butt and said, "Come on man, here we go, you can do it." I really needed it at that time. »

« He's been rock solid all week." , has followed Burns. “I couldn't have done it without him. »

Like Burns, Young briefly seemed destined for the consolation game. He was trailing 2-3 by McIlroy, but he birdied the 16th and 18th holes, then birdied the first playoff hole, the par-12 5th, to win.

The favorites came out, giving way to the spectacle of Cam and Sam. Only 43 people, or 0,11% of the bets, predicted a Burns-Young final. Surprisingly, this was Burns' first tournament, and while Match Play has always taken a long time to be understood by players – Geoff Ogilvy in 2006 was the last to win it on his first attempt – Burns did. quickly assimilated.

He now sits eighth in the FedExCup and tenth in the Official World Golf Rankings. He will approach his next start without much fanfare, as always, but his clubs are starting to make noise.

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