Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler go way back. The two were best buddies as teens and have played competitive golf for what feels like decades with and against each other.
The duo have been pickleball partners, and often room together on the road.
And at this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, the opening event in the FedEx Cup playoffs,
the relationship took a new twist as cameras caught Sam holding Scottie’s newborn son, Bennett, and even cheering him on during his second round of play.
Wouldn’t you know it, by the end of the day the two players were next to each other in the standings, with Burns in third place at 10 under and Scheffler right behind him at 9 under.
The Burns-Scheffler fun is just some of what you need to know after the second round of play.
Sam Burns gets hot
If Burns was looking to get off to a hot start on a warm Memphis day, he certainly followed through. After making birdie on No. 2, he followed with an eagle on No. 3 and another birdie on No. 4. At the turn, Burns posted a 29, and by the end of the day he’d climbed just a shot behind co-leaders Hideki Matsuyama and Denny McCarthy.
When asked if the week had a playoff feel, Burns said yes, even if crowds were lethargic.
“I think with the temperatures being this hot, you’re not getting a ton of fans out walking around. Most people are kind of sitting in the structures, which I would be doing, too, if I was them,” he said. “But yeah, I think amongst the players, there definitely is a different feel, just knowing how important this week and the next week is, especially for the Tour Championship.
“Yeah, I would say for sure.”
Denny McCarthy is playing through pain
Denny McCarthy entered this week with long odds to win the tournament. The 31-year-old is still searching for his first career PGA Tour win despite some impressive performances this season. He notably finished second at the Valero Texas Open in April and had top-7 results at the John Deere Classic and Wells Fargo Championship.
But in the Memphis heat, McCarthy seemed to have little problem, as he enjoyed a wild ride that included a pair of bogeys and nine birdies. He finished with a 63 and is in the lead, tied with Matsuyama.
This despite having to alter his swing while dealing with a torn labrum in his hip.
“I don’t want to divulge too much. It’s bothering me, and I’ve been able to do enough the last few days to push through it. Like I said, the heat helps it. Yeah, looking forward to a challenge on the weekend,” he said
Thunderstorms expected on Saturday
Thunderstorms are expected to strike the Memphis area early Saturday, PGA Tour officials announced Friday afternoon. In light of the inclement forecast, players will begin teeing off at approximately 9:45 a.m. Saturday.
Rounds one and two featured the 70-player field teeing off in pairs every 10 minutes beginning at 7:20 a.m. on the first tee. On Saturday, players (in groups of three) will tee off simultaneously on Nos. 1 and 10 from 9:45-11:45 a.m.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
