Sam Burns reacts to US Open controversy as sickened star reveals explanation for drop shot decision

Daily Record

6 hours ago

The American expected a drop shot at the 15th due to standing water but was denied in a pivotal moment
Sickened Sam Burns has spoken out on the hugely-controversial decision which finally blew apart his US Open dream.
The American star was at the centre of a massive drama in the final stages at Oakmont and seemed to be the victim of a hotly-contested call from tournament officials.
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On the 15th hole with the title at Oakmont still firmly within reach, Burns hit a drive which which rolled into a soggy spot.
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Following the delay to play for heavy rain, patches on the Pennsylvania track had become sodden with puddles emerging across the course.
Burns expected to get a free drop because of the standing water, but he was told by the first official that wasn't happening.
With watching fans and TV commentators also aghast at the decision not to offer him relief from the sloppy spot, the Ryder Cup star sought a second opinion.
However, just as on the opening occasion, he was flatly denied by a rules chief and it proved a massive moment.
When he finally hit his shot, a huge splash came, his ball squirted the wrong way left of the green and crashed into deep rough which resulted in a double-bogey six which blew his chance.
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Burns ended up tied-seventh after a 78 with is morale collapsed and he gave his thoughts on the hotly-debated calls once JJ Spaun had clinched the title.
He said: 'That fairway slopes left to right. That's kind of the low part of the fairway there. When I walked into it, clearly you could see water coming up.
"I took practice swings and it's just water splashing every single time. I called a rules official over, they disagreed. I looked at it again.
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"I thought maybe I should get a second opinion. That rules official also disagreed. At the end of the day, it's not up to me, it's up to the rules official. That's kind of that.
'From that point, [caddie] Travis and I said: Look let's focus on the shot, try to execute. I did the best I could.
'I was 100 percent locked in on what I was trying to do. Ultimately, it felt like the water just kind of got in the way and I went left. It is what it is.'
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To his credit, Burns, who is Scottie Scheffler's big mate, didn't blame the decision for his failure to close it out or other pieces of bad luck, such as landing square in a divot the hole before his water issue.
He added: 'It's a tough golf course and I didn't have my best stuff. Clearly it showed. Look, it's part of it. Everybody's got to deal with it.
"I'm extremely proud of the way I fought out. Overall it was a great week. I was in a divot on 11 as well. It's part of it. It happens.
'You play enough golf, you hit it in divots, and everybody does. I went out there and gave it the best I had. Golf's a hard game, especially on this course. At the end of the day, I can hold my head high.'