SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 3, 2021

Sam Burns

Country Club of Jackson

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We would like to welcome the 2021 winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship, Sam Burns to the environment actual media room. Sam, again congratulations.

SAM BURNS: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: What are the emotions on capturing your second PGA TOUR victory?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, I think it's, it hasn't really set in yet. Still looking out there at the golf course like kind of trying to figure out what happened. Yeah, just very honored to win here, being so close to home it's only two and a half hours from where I live now and having friend and family here it's really cool and a special week and just really excited.

THE MODERATOR: Last year you were leader in 36-hole co-leads and co-leads with 54, so you're no stranger in leading and figuring out what it takes with capturing your first win last season. You were only one back today, what was kind of the game plan coming into today?

SAM BURNS: I think it was very similar to the first three days, just having a game plan for the golf course and what that was getting in the fairway, trying to give ourselves lots of looks. Didn't putt it great but was able to give myself a lot of chances and made enough birdies, so really it was just kind of sticking to that game plan and trying to hit the proper shots.

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions, please.

Q. So last year when you won the Valspar you said that you realized you didn't have to be perfect to win. I'm also kind of looking back at your career, you've had maybe a year or so to try and sort of figure it out and then once you figure it out you're pretty dangerous. Do you feel like that history is sort of repeating itself where you're kind of starting to figure it out a little bit on the PGA TOUR?

SAM BURNS: I think last year having those experiences around the lead, I think those were really important for me, I learned a lot. Having that under my belt today, that experience was definitely helpful and coming down the stretch I felt a lot different than I have in the past and not necessarily more confident but just in a better state of mind and thinking process was much better. So, yeah, those experiences definitely helped.

Q. Did you watch the Ryder Cup and do you feel like you're making a statement as one of America's best young players, it certainly looks like it from where I sit but it's got to sort of fire you up to watch all this on TV and see all these guys that you played a lot of golf with?

SAM BURNS: I watched a little bit, I didn't really watch much, to be honest. I don't necessarily watch a lot of golf. But, yeah, I think getting the call from Stricker on Monday and hearing the news that I didn't make the team was definitely very motivating and definitely kind of gut wrenching. And, so, yeah, I think it's definitely motivated me to try to be on the next team and continue to try to improve and hopefully be on it the next go.

Q. What's the most vivid memory of playing golf with your big brother, Chase?

SAM BURNS: Oh, gosh, probably me chasing him with a golf club after him making me mad. Done that a few times. But, yeah, we've shared a lot of good experiences on the golf course and this one adds to it.

Q. You're wearing yellow today, I just wanted to know what went into that decision?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, I think this week having the theme days and for me having a nephew that has spinal meningitis is currently in the hospital kind of hit close to home, so really thinking about him and my family and all others that have been affected really just try to raise awareness.

Q. What does it mean, like you said with your nephew, to come out here and win in yellow on Sunday?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, it's really cool. He won't remember it because he's only five or six weeks old, but I'll definitely remember it and our family will remember it and just really thinking about my sister and her husband and their family and what they have experienced. It's been really hard and so just ask everyone to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.

Q. Earlier I was talking to Adam and I believe he told me that you actually started your pro career here at Sanderson Farms. Just what do you remember from that moment in 2017 and how is it kind of like a full circle moment to get your second career win here?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, it's definitely come full circle. This is one of my favorite events on TOUR, I always enjoy coming here, being close to home and for Steve to give me that opportunity as a kid coming out of college, it was really special to me and it meant a lot to me and God willing I'll be able to play here for the next 20 years and it will always have a special place in my heart.

Q. A bunch of guys were contention today before you made the turn, did you kind of know where you were on the board at all, were you looking and if so what did you think you had to get to today to get the win?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, I didn't really look. I made a comment to Travis on there on the par-3, 13, can't remember what I said, but he kind of snapped me back into it, back into what we were trying to do and so he was great all week and just keeping us in the moment and keeping us focused on our process. I didn't really have necessarily a number coming into today. I thought it could be a few different numbers. I just think if we went out there and put a solid round together I felt like we would have a really good chance.

Q. Is there any specific moment in the Valspar that you kind of touched on or called on today, knowing you were going to be in the mix and going for the win?

SAM BURNS: I think for me just the shots coming down the stretch, just really committing to those shots and trying to execute, not being scared of the moment, not being afraid to hit a bad shot. Just really going out there and trying to put a good swing on every not and trust what I was doing.

Q. Could you give me the name of your nephew and the name of your sister and where are they?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, my nephew's name is Burns Walker. My sister's name is Tori Walker and her husband is Dan. And then they also have two other kids, Vivian and Max and they're in Dallas. Dallas Children's Hospital.

Q. How long have they been in the hospital?

SAM BURNS: He's been there for at least two weeks. I'm not sure exactly how much longer. It could be a decent while, so...

THE MODERATOR: That's all the questions we have. Appreciate you taking the time to talk with us after that second win and enjoy it.

SAM BURNS: All right, thank y'all.