Sam Burns suffers another painful major setback after leading Open Championship

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Sam Burns entered the final round of the 2026 Open Championship with a two-shot lead and another golden opportunity to capture his first major title. A final-round 72 left him two shots behind champion Ryan Fox and extended Burns’ growing history of painful major championship finishes.

Sam Burns keeps putting himself in position to win a major championship. The final step continues to be the hardest one. Burns entered Sunday’s final round of the 2026 Open Championship with a two-shot lead after producing consecutive rounds of 62 and 65 at Royal Birkdale. He had traveled to England unsure of what to expect after the recent birth of his daughter, but suddenly found himself only 18 holes away from lifting the Claret Jug.

That dream slipped away during a frustrating final round. Burns shot a two-over 72 to finish at 8 under, two strokes behind Ryan Fox. Fox birdied the 18th hole to reach 10 under and defeat Cameron Young by one shot, while Burns settled for third place after beginning the day in control of the tournament.

It was the latest close call for Burns, who has now entered the final round with the lead in two majors and finished second in another without securing the trophy.

Sam Burns loses control of Open Championship lead​

Burns began Sunday at 10 under and immediately extended his advantage with a birdie on the second hole. His momentum did not last. Burns made three consecutive bogeys as his ball-striking and putting became less reliable. The mistakes opened the door for Fox, Young, Si Woo Kim and several other contenders to move into the championship picture.

Young eventually posted the clubhouse lead at 9 under after shooting a six-under 64. Fox caught him on the back nine before making the winning birdie on the final hole. Burns still had a chance to remain within striking distance late in the round, but he could not produce the closing birdies he needed. His long birdie attempt on No. 18 stayed out, and he tapped in for par to complete a 72 and finish alone in third.

Burns ended the tournament with rounds of 73, 62, 65 and 72. His record-tying 62 on Friday matched the lowest round in men’s major championship history. Burns then backed it up with a third-round 65, giving him a two-shot advantage over Fox and Kim entering Sunday.

The first 54 holes demonstrated why Burns is considered one of the PGA Tour’s most talented players. The final 18 provided another reminder of how difficult it can be to close out a major.

Burns adds another major disappointment​

This was not the first time Burns entered the final round of a major championship with the lead. Burns held the 54-hole advantage at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont but struggled to an eight-over 78 on Sunday. He dropped into a tie for seventh after dealing with difficult conditions and several costly mistakes on the back nine.

Burns came even closer at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. He finished second and missed a 17-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have forced a playoff. Only one month later, Burns found himself leading another major entering the final round. Once again, he walked away without the trophy.

The Open result also came with a familiar name at the top of the leaderboard. Fox defeated Burns in a four-hole playoff at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. Fox has now denied Burns twice, first for a PGA Tour title and then for the Claret Jug.

MORE: Ryan Fox sinks dramatic final-hole birdie to win Open Championship

Burns keeps knocking on the door​

The disappointment should not erase how well Burns played for most of the week. Burns’ third-place finish was easily the best Open Championship result of his career. His previous best finish was a tie for 31st in 2024. He has now recorded top-10 finishes at three consecutive majors, finishing tied for seventh at the Masters, second at the U.S. Open and third at The Open.

Burns already owns five PGA Tour victories, including the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He has reached as high as No. 9 in the Official World Golf Ranking and has represented the United States in both the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup. The major championship breakthrough increasingly feels like a matter of when, not if.

For Burns, however, that will provide little comfort after Royal Birkdale. He arrived at the final round with a two-shot lead and left watching Fox celebrate with the Claret Jug.

Burns keeps knocking on the door. For the third time in two years, it remained closed.

More golf news:​

• Ryan Fox sinks dramatic final-hole birdie to win Open Championship
• Who is Ryan Fox? Meet the New Zealand golfer who shot historic 62 at The Open
• Donald Trump urged to intervene after Bryson DeChambeau’s controversial Open penalty

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