Sam Burns, a professional golfer, experienced a significant meltdown during the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Saturday in Tennessee, dramatically impacting his performance. Burns, who was in strong contention for the top spot, suffered a frustrating setback when he hit a tee shot into the woods at TPC Southwind. The 28-year-old golfer, visibly angered by the misfire, slammed his driver to the ground, breaking the club in the process.
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This emotional outburst, which was caught on TV, was not the result of a player struggling to make the cut. In fact, Burns had begun the day in a strong position, just one shot behind the leader. Through the first eight holes of the third round, he maintained his competitiveness with a score of 12 under par, despite having two bogeys and four birdies.
However, Burns’ performance off the tee was problematic. His poor drives had led to bogeys on the 1st and 7th holes and a missed opportunity on the par-5 3rd hole, where he managed only a par while the leader, Hideki Matsuyama, scored an eagle. When his drive on the 9th hole veered far left into the trees, his frustration boiled over, leading to the dramatic destruction of his driver.
Despite this setback, Burns demonstrated remarkable resilience. Although he was forced to finish the round without a driver, he managed to remain in contention for the win on Sunday, showcasing his determination and ability to overcome adversity.