Sam Burns won his fifth PGA Tour title in the final iteration of the WGC Dell Matchplay in Austin, Texas on Sunday. Burns - the 13th seed - outlasted his close friend and world number 1 Scottie Scheffler in a titanic semi-final that went to a third hole of sudden death. Burns then set alight Cameron Young in the final with a run of 8 birdies in 10 holes to easily clinch the title 6 & 5.
The impressive Burns, who has had a relatively quiet start to the season, also took down the 4th seed Patrick "Personality" Cantlay in the round of 16. Burns and Young rode hot putters all week and were a combined 77 under for the week (approx 7 rounds). Given their propensity for birdies - it seems inevitable these two young guns will be on Team USA come Ryder Cup Rome time in September.
I was probably one of three people worldwide who didn't want to see a Scheffler/Rory final.
This was purely selfish as I had Young AND Burns on my winner's bet card from the start of the week. Even a blind squirrel finds the odd nut!
Whilst Scheffler has just been electric since the word go this year - it is encouraging to see Rory finding some consistency. He made 44 birdies and 2 eagles during the week with only 7 bogeys. With the Masters nearly upon us it's very hard not to see both players from the consolation match at the sharp end of proceedings come Sunday afternoon.
The match play event always tends to lose steam. It was no different this year and excitement waned when both Rory and Scottie - like two geriatrics at the end of a viagra-binge - finally lost their semis.
Twitter had some good ideas to make the consolation match more entertaining:
It's really disappointing that we may not have future editions of this tournament. The argument from TV producers and sponsors is that it is too unpredictable - matches can finish way before prime time and positioning corporate stands to catch drama is a guessing game.
I think the players countered this argument with the level played this week. It was epic.
The Matchplay format brings out the absolute best in these guys - conservatism goes out the window when your opponent hits it stiff and that free's them up to hit incredible shots.
Figure it out PGA/sponsors.
It's one week a year!
PS - The only LIV golf I've watched so far was the match play.
PPS - sell the full advert rights to the final and 3/4 playoff to a single sponsor.
PPPS - 4th place should have a forfeit like a rumbler or dress-wearing ceremony.
PPPS - Two weeks till The Masters!
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