BMW CHAMPIONSHIP

August 19, 2023

Sam Burns

Olympia Fields Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. What was the biggest difference today from the first couple days?

SAM BURNS: I think the first couple days, I feel like I was playing okay. Just not really getting a lot out of what I was doing out there.

I told Travis and our team, I was like, I just want to come out here and play a confident round of golf, whether that's 72 or whatever it was today.

I just want to go out there and play with confidence, play free, and see what happens.

Q. Did you know what you shot today tied Max's course record from yesterday?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, unfortunately, yeah. I didn't want to tie him, I wanted to beat him. But I'll take it.

Q. Are you aware of all your scenarios to move on to East Lake next week, and if so, do you think about it or put it in the back of your mind?

SAM BURNS: Not really. If I make it, great. If I don't, I get to go home and be home an extra week.

Whatever happens, I know the Lord has already planned it out, and I can be good with whatever happens.

Q. How do you take stock of your season so far? How would you grade it?

SAM BURNS: I feel like it's been a frustrating year at times. I've seen a lot of good. I've seen some bad. Just been kind of one of those years.

But I'm grateful that I'm here. It could be a year where I didn't make the Playoffs, but I'm here and have an opportunity to go out and play well tomorrow. It is what it is.

Q. Was there anything early in the week that you worked on that you think helped today?

SAM BURNS: I mean, I'm sure. It's golf. I'm always working on something.

Nothing crazy. I think just trying to fine tune everything.

Q. What's your favorite shot you hit today?

SAM BURNS: Probably the bunker shot I made on -- I don't know what hole that is, 13 maybe, 14. That was a good shot.

Q. What was the thought process on that shot?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, to be honest, it was pretty easy. It was on the up slope. Had enough green, a little back into the wind. Just had to clip it, and I did.

Q. Tonight are you going to grind? Are you going to take it easy? What's that look like?

SAM BURNS: Nothing, just the usual, probably go practice a little bit, have some lunch and just relax.

Q. I covered the Match Play and you obviously were unbeatable there. What was the difference? To watch you there and then to watch you today, I would have thought nothing had happened. What happened in between those two?

SAM BURNS: Golf. Pretty simple as that. It's a hard, hard game. It can really beat you up at times.

I think for me, just trying to stay the course and just keep working hard and know that I was doing the right things, and eventually I would see something on the golf course that would kind of show me that, and today was definitely a piece of that.

Q. Were you hoping Zach Johnson was on his couch watching golf today?

SAM BURNS: Yeah. I mean, like I said, a lot of it's out of my control. The only thing I can do is go out there and play hard and compete. At the end of the day, whatever happens, I can be okay with it.

Q. At what point today are you looking at the number you're making, and does that affect your strategy at all?

SAM BURNS: I think this golf course is really too difficult to get sidetracked and think about what you're shooting. Every hole is hard. There's no let-up holes out here, so you've just got to keep your head down and focus on each shot. That's what I tried to do.

Q. When you're lining up the last putt, you knew it was for the course record, right? What's your thought process in lining up the last putt?

SAM BURNS: I think the same as any putt. Just read it and figure out where I want to start it. Try to put a good roll on it, and after that it's out of my control.

Q. So no extra pressure or anything?

SAM BURNS: Not really, no.

Q. Did you see any differences in the course today from the first two days?

SAM BURNS: Yeah, the ball is starting to bounce a little bit more. The sun and wind dried it out a little bit. I think the greens are starting to get a little bounce to them, and you have to be a little more strategic when hitting shots into the greens.

I think it'll be a great test tomorrow.

Q. Did you have a turning point in your round where you noticed you had it going on compared to the last two days?

SAM BURNS: Not really. Nothing really stands out.

Q. Your motivation going into this week and wanting to make it on, how much of that is tied to the Ryder Cup? Is that something you're thinking about throughout the week?

SAM BURNS: I mean, honestly every week I try to come out here and prepare as hard as I can and do everything I can to play my best. At the end of the day, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to make the Ryder Cup. I want nothing more.

But that's a goal that's kind of different than coming out here and playing golf.

I think for me just trying to put a good game plan together and just try and execute.