"Thanks for the reminder": Tearful Sam Burns' first words after another crushing U.S. Open defeat

Sam Burns held back tears as he reflected on his latest heartbreak at the U.S. Open. 

The 29-year-old American produced a stirring final-round charge at Shinnecock Hills but ultimately fell one short of Wyndham Clark. 

Burns began the final round with little expectation of catching the leader but by the time he had reached the 18th hole he was only one back. 

A birdie putt from 17 feet grazed the edge of the cup and Burns tossed his putter aside and fell to his knees. 

A disappointed Burns looked completely dejected in the scoring hut and watched Clark claim the win whilst he stayed loose on the driving range. 

The disappointment came 12 months after Burns' miserable finish at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

He led after two rounds and played in the final group on Sunday before everything fell apart after a 90-minute rain delay. 

It also included a controversial moment whereby the golfer was denied relief for casual water and went on to make a damaging double bogey. 

"Thanks for reminder," Burns said in the immediate aftermath of another defeat at the U.S. Open. 

"I really thought I made that putt [on 18]. It just didn't go in."

Burns said his emotions were extremely different. 

"I would say last year at Oakmont I felt more I lost the golf tournament," Burns said. "I certainly don't feel that way today.

"I think I did my best, and I did everything I could to have a chance to win today. 

"I started the day seven shots back. That's very difficult to overcome, especially someone who is playing as well as Wyndham has been playing. 

"That was really the difference today.

"If I would have been a little bit closer and maybe could have got ahead of him at some point, I think there could have been a different outcome possibly. 

"But at the end of the day, he played amazing, and it was his week. You got to tip your cap to him."

Burns, who raced to the turn in 32 strokes, also made a sloppy mistake on the 15th, three-putting for bogey. 

"I felt like the putt I hit kind of when it got down to the hole kind of went a little right past the hole," he said. 

"On the way back I thought it would be pretty straight, and it went to the right.

"I think that happens on these greens late in the day. The surfaces get tough to hole putts on when they get crusty and had traffic. 

"But I think, you know, overall I feel like the round that I played was a really good round of golf. It's unfortunate I just came up one short.

"I think the USGA did an amazing job this week on their setup. 

"I'm very critical of the USGA, but I think they really did a good job this week in how they set this golf course up."

Of Clark, Burns added: "To Wyndham's credit, he played amazing all week. That was really impressive golf that he played the first three rounds. 

"Even today, I mean, I know he shot, whatever, a couple over par, but it was playing really difficult this afternoon. 

"You know, he did the right things when he needed to. He's a well-deserved champion"