Burns Comeback Victory "Defeated World No.1"... Scheffler "Tears in Overtime" (Summary)

Charles Schwab Challenge Final Day: 5-Under Par Daily Best Leads to Co-Leader "Winning Birdie in First Playoff," Im Sung-jae Ties for 15th

Sam Burns (left) is sharing joy with his caddie immediately after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge. Fort Worth, USA = Getty Images/Multivitz

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Winning birdie with a putter from the fringe."

It was a dramatic comeback victory for world No. 10 Sam Burns. On the 30th (Korean time) at Colonial Golf Club near Fort Worth, Texas, USA (par 70, 7,209 yards), Burns surged with a 5-under-par final round to take the lead and quickly seize the top of the leaderboard at 9-under-par 271 in the Charles Schwab Challenge of the PGA Tour (total prize money $8.4 million). He then sealed the win on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff against 'Number 1' Scottie Scheffler (both from the USA) at the 18th hole (par 4). This marks his third win of the season and fourth overall, with a winner's prize of $1,512,000 (1.9 billion KRW).

Burns is a '25-year-old young gun' who advanced to the PGA Tour in the 2019 season after winning the 2018 Korn Ferry Tour Savannah Championship. He claimed the title at the Valspar Championship last May, and two weeks later showed his world star power with runner-up finishes at the AT&T Byron Nelson and the FedEx St. Jude Invitational in August. The 2022 season included a win at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October, followed by a successful title defense at the Valspar Championship this past March.

Sam Burns is posing for a commemorative photo holding the trophy in front of the car he received as a prize immediately after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge. Fort Worth, USA = Getty Images/Multivitz

Burns started the day tied for 17th, seven strokes behind, drawing even more spotlight. He posted a daily best 5-under-par with seven birdies and two bogeys. He got off to a flying start with back-to-back birdies on holes 1 and 2, exchanged a birdie on hole 4 (par 3) for a bogey on hole 5 (par 4), then made another pair of consecutive birdies on holes 6 and 7. He closed in on the leaders with 'stepping stone birdies' on holes 9 (par 4) and 11 (par 5). The bogey on hole 12 (par 4), caused by a tee shot landing in a penalty area, was a bit unfortunate.

On the other hand, Scheffler struggled with his iron shots, making two bogeys on holes 6 (par 4) and 12 (par 4) without any birdies, enduring a tough day. This was surprising given that he led for three days straight, including a 4-under-par first round. Recently, he has swept four wins in nine events, including his first major at the Masters, dominating all personal titles such as world ranking (9.66 points), prize money ($10.3 million), and FedEx Cup points (2,842). He met a formidable obstacle at the 'five-win threshold.'

Brandon Todd finished third (8-under-par 272), and 'Texas boy' Jordan Spieth (both from the USA) tied for seventh (5-under-par 275). From Korea, Im Sung-jae (24, CJ Logistics) secured a tie for 15th place (3-under-par 277). He returned to Korea earlier this month for the Korean Professional Golf (KPGA) Korean Tour Woori Financial Championship after 2 years and 7 months, but was hampered by COVID-19; however, he seems to be overcoming it smoothly. Defending champion Jason Kokrak (USA) finished 67th (8-over-par 288).

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