2022 Travelers Championship: Top 10 Power Rankings at TPC River Highlands
Sam Burns nearly posted his best result in a major championship for the second time in a row at the U.S. Open. After posting a T-20th at the PGA Championship last month, Burns was in contention last week at The Country Club heading into the final round.
He was in the fourth to last group and entered the day just three shots behind the leaders. Burns was unable to keep the momentum rolling, falling back to T-27th.
The LSU alum was deft at saving strokes around the greens at Brookline. He was 11th in the field in strokes gained short game (2.88) but struggled to hit enough fairways and greens, especially on Sunday, to remain in the top 10.
Nonetheless, it’ll surely be a learning experience for the 25-year-old.
He’s been doing the teaching in regular PGA Tour events. Burns owns three wins in the 2021-22 season. It started with the Sanderson Farms Championship last fall, continued with a title defense this spring at the Valspar Championship, and again last month at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
He has five other top-10s and would have a case for Player of the Year if not for Scottie Scheffler’s historic campaign.
Burns has made four cuts in a row as well as eight of his last 10.
The Louisianan has improved each time at the Travelers Championship.
He debuted as a rookie in 2019 with T-43rd (67-69-72-69), jumped to T-24th (68-66-68-67) in 2020, and to T-13th (66-71-67-68) last year. It’s only logical that he cracks the top 10 this week at TPC River Highlands.
Burns ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained (1.767) and has all the tools when his game is clicking. He’s 38th or higher in every SG category, including fourth in approach (.833).
Unfortunately, his prowess off the tee will be a bit muted around this short ballpark, but he’s proven to be able to get it done in a variety of locales. Burns is fourth in birdie average (4.43), fourth in greens in regulation (70.27%), and ninth in proximity from 125-150 yards (21’1”).