Sam Burns Goes Back to Back at the Valspar Championship

Palm Harbor, FL –  Sam Burns (-17) won the 2022 Valspar Championship to claim his third career PGA Tour title and back to back victories at the event.  Burns had to overcome PGA Tour rookie Davis Riley in a playoff.  He did so in dramatic fashion, sinking a long birdie putt on the second playoff hole.  To his credit, Riley showed the kind of tee to green play that will likely see him near the top of leaderboards for years to come.

Riley entered the final round with a two stroke lead over Matthew NeSmith, but wasn’t able to cash in enough putts, treading water with a round of 72 and letting Burns and others back into the tournament.  One of those who threatened to make it even more interesting late was Justin Thomas.  The number eight player in the world has been showing flashes of his best lately and has expressed a desire to get back inside the top 5 in the world.  He fell just short, after three rounds of 66, firing 70 and finishing one stroke back of Burns and Riley at -16.  Matthew NeSmith also finished T3, carding his best career finish.

Finishing two strokes behind Thomas and NeSmith were Matt Fitzpatrick and Brian Harman.  Sahith Theegala, Stewart Cink, Kevin Streelman, Adam Hadwin, and Robert Streb finished T7 at -12.  Brooks Koepka was one of the biggest winners of the final round, shooting low round of the day 65 and vaulting himself into a T12 finish.

Not all of the top ranked players in the field thrived though.  Viktor Hovland (T33, -6) and Dustin Johnson (T39, -5), and Collin Morikawa (T68, +1) made the cut but failed to really get their games kicked into gear on the weekend.

Next week, many of the top players on the PGA Tour will head to Austin for the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.  Billy Horschel is the defending champion and will appear alongside players including Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, and Justin Thomas.  Those not in the field will play the Corales Puntacana Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Sam Burns What’s In The Bag

Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond 10.5º (Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX)

5 Wood: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 17º (Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X)

Utility: Callaway Apex UW 21º (Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X)

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB 4-P (Project X Rifle 6.5)

Wedges: Callaway Jaws MD5 50º, 56º, 60º (True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue)

Putter: Odyssey O-Works 7S Black

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Dylan Thaemert

Dylan Thaemert has been a contributor to Plugged In Golf since 2018. He is a clinical mental health therapist living in the Twin Cities area. He is passionate about travel, the arts, and is always searching for ways to increase his knowledge of the game of golf.

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