THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 20, 2022

Sam Burns

Quail Hollow Club

Press Conference

Q. What's it been like so far?

SAM BURNS: It's been everything I dreamed of and more. Just an awesome experience here with these guys.

Q. Obviously you guys are heavy favorites. How do you deal with that? Do you ignore it? Do you use it as find a way to motivate yourself that way?

SAM BURNS: I think for us we've got to come in here and prepare the best that we can. It doesn't really matter who we're playing. I think it's just we have a mindset of we just want to come here and prepare the best we can and be ready to go out and play our best.

Ultimately at the end of the day, that's all we can really control.

Q. Heard you got some good barbecue last night?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, it was really good.

Q. You and Scottie, what is it about your relationship that sort of clicks? Who gives who the hardest time?

SAM BURNS: I don't know. There he is. I could ask him.

Q. Who gives who the hardest time?

SAM BURNS: It's back and forth. I don't know, I think it's just -- who gives who a harder time? I don't know. Just us.

Q. Have you thought about the 1st tee atmosphere, what that will be like?

SAM BURNS: I think it's in my head in a good way. You want to have that shot. You want that opportunity. So I'm really excited for that.

Q. Have you asked guys what that might be like with the 2,500, 3,000 people all cheering?

SAM BURNS: Not really. I think I can kind of like picture it in my head. So I have a pretty good idea. It's going to be fun.

Q. Will you try to raise cheers or just kind of let the atmosphere play itself out?

SAM BURNS: Whatever they want to do.

Q. It's a hypothetical question. If there were ever a PGA TOUR-LIV Golf Tour event, would you play in that?

SAM BURNS: Yes.

Q. Why?

SAM BURNS: Because I love the PGA TOUR, and if they asked me to be on that team, I would be on it.

Q. Is that something that's, among you or among the team, like a fantasy golf situation? Like PGA TOUR 12 best against their 12 best? Is that ever going to come up in conversation?

SAM BURNS: No, I've never had that conversation.

Q. Has it come up in your head?

SAM BURNS: No, I haven't really thought much about it to be honest.

Q. One of the things Davis said is going to be the hardest is telling which guys to sit out. How do you keep from getting like your feelings hurt if you're asked to sit out?

SAM BURNS: I think this week it's about the team. It's not about me. It's not about Justin Thomas. The only reason I said Justin Thomas is I'm looking at him. It's just about the collective as a team.

So whatever Captain Love thinks is best for the team, I support that 100 percent. Whenever he asks me for my input and what I think, I tell him. Yeah, whatever they want me to do, I'm willing to do. I think everybody on this team agrees with that.

Q. If you've got 12 guys on the team, if you had to build your ideal match play player, picking someone to drive, iron play, short game, and putter, what would you pick for those spots?

SAM BURNS: Driving -- I don't know. There's a lot of good drivers on this team. Cam Young hits it pretty far, pretty straight. Iron play, probably Collin. I would say short game, probably J.T. or Jordan. Putting -- I don't know who I'd pick for putting. I'd have to think about that a little bit.

Q. There's been a couple guys say you.

SAM BURNS: I'll take it.

Q. Is it within the realm of possibility that the U.S. does so well in the first couple days that Sunday becomes essentially a cake walk? Or is it going to be a lot closer?

SAM BURNS: I'm not answering that question.