MEMPHIS — It’s not a party, they say, until something breaks, and likewise, it’s not really the FedEx Cup Playoffs until one club flies into a rage and it leads to its downfall.
Sam Burns got hotter than the 100-degree heat index when he mishit his tee shot on the par-4 ninth hole at the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on Saturday. From his backswing position, the aptly named driver (in this case) from Louisiana sent his club flying straight into the ground, ripping the head clean off the shaft. Official PGA Tour rules official Mark Dusbabek later confirmed that a club cannot be replaced if it was damaged in anger rather than in the normal course of play.
Burns, who is 29th in the points table and 33rd in the world rankings, was two shots behind leader and playing partner Hideki Matsuyama when he reached the par-4 ninth hole. Things didn’t get any better after his errant drive. He hit the fairway but missed the green left with a wedge from 100 yards, almost hitting the hazard. He then made matters worse by botching his chip shot and the ball came back to him over the bank. Burns pitched his next shot close and settled for double bogey.
Burns, 28, who has won the Tour five times but is without a win this year, recovered well on the next hole, making a 5-foot birdie putt to win back a shot. But on the next hole, the par-5 12th, Burns had to use his 3-wood off the tee, and that shot didn’t go over the water. Burns responded by gently flipping the club over.
