AUGUSTA, Ga. — As a self-proclaimed southern-loving kid from Choudrant, Louisiana, the Masters — with all its pageantry and hospitality — is right in Sam Burns’ wheelhouse.
He proposed and married his wife, Caroline, in Savannah, the site of his lone Korn Ferry Tour victory.
The 25-year-old LSU alum is passionate about football, playing safety and quarterback as a youth player.
His affinity for southern culture bleeds over into one of Augusta National’s great debates — pimento cheese or egg salad?
“I prefer pimento, but I wouldn’t turn down an egg salad,” Burns said on Tuesday. “I think they’re both great, but if I had to choose one, it would probably be that one.”
Burns was an LSU football fanatic while in school and still follows the program closely. With his father and brother having both played football in college, so the sport, he says, is still in his blood.
Which is a mentality that’s still a part of him, even on the golf course.
“I loved football. I really enjoyed it,” Burns said. “Sometimes when I get frustrated, I still wish I could put on pads and take my frustration out.”
Burns has won three Tour events in the past year to seal his first invitation to the Masters, where he practiced on Monday with good friend and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Burns got in five holes on Tuesday before inclement weather suspended activity for the day on the grounds.
Burns played a round at Augusta National last month with his father, Todd, his first time playing the course. During Monday’s practice round, he attempted to learn every detail of the course while aiming to please the patrons. He interacted with kids, doled out high fives and he and Scheffler put on a show with Scheffler skipping balls across the water at the 16th.
“I was just like, make sure you at least hit the water because I didn’t want to send it straight in the air and not touch anything,” Burns said. “That would be embarrassing. And try also to not fall in the water. That slope’s pretty steep right there. That was fun. How do you not enjoy that?”
Burns tees off Thursday with Abraham Ancer and Tyrrell Hatton at 1:19 p.m. with few expectations for himself. But if anyone wants to question his pimento cheese decision, he is ready to stand his ground.
“I feel like I could hold my own in a debate,” Burns said. “Who knows if that will ever happen? But I guess I need to be prepared.”
