KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Sam Burns’ red-hot run came to a quick end at the PGA Championship.
The 24-year-old withdrew after nine holes at Kiawah Island, citing a back injury. He’d gone out in 4-over 41 – with a triple bogey and a double – before walking off the course.
Burns has been playing as well as anyone on Tour over the past few months, winning the Valspar Championship for his first victory and then nearly taking last week’s AT&T Byron Nelson, where he held the 54-hole lead before finishing second to K.H. Lee.
In his third full season, Burns owns the most 36- and 54-hole leads on Tour. He’s all the way up to No. 36 in the world rankings.