MEMPHIS — It’s not a party, the saying goes, until something gets broken, and by the same token, it’s not really the FedEx Cup Playoffs until a club is thrown in anger resulting in its demise.
Sam Burns got hotter than the 100-degree heat index when he pulled his tee shot badly on the par-4 ninth hole Saturday in the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind. From his follow-through position, the aptly named (in this case) Louisiana native flung his driver straight into the ground, snapping the head clean from the shaft. PGA Tour rules official Mark Dusbabek later confirmed that a club can’t be replaced if it is damaged in anger and not through the normal course of play.
Burns, who is 29th in the points standings and 33rd in the world, trailed leader and playing partner Hideki Matsuyama by two shots when he arrived at the par-4 ninth. Things didn’t improve after his wayward drive. He punched out into the fairway, but missed the green left with a wedge from 110 yards, nearly going into the hazard. Then he made matters worse by chunking his chip shot, his ball coming back down the bank to him. Burns pitched his next close and settled for a double bogey.
A five-time tour winner but without a victory this year, Burns, 28, bounced back nicely on the following hole, converting a five-foot birdie putt to regain a stroke. But on the next hole, the par-5 12th, Burns had to use his 3-wood off the tee, and that shot didn't cover the water. Burns reacted by gently flipping the club.
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