Patient Sam Burns fires career-best Masters round to share early lead
After his opening round Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club, Sam Burns is tied with defending champion Rory McIlroy for the lead.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sam Burns has played in four Masters Tournaments . His best finish?
A tie for 29th. Yet after his opening round Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club, Burns is tied with defending champion Rory McIlroy for the lead. Burns fired a 5-under 67 to begin the year's first major championship, thanks in part to a strong performance off the tee.
Burns hit 11-of-14 fairways, leading to six birdies and his best round ever at the Masters. LEADERBOARD: 2026 Masters scores, tee times, videos A key for Burns? Patience, which is something he said he has to work on every single day.
"I think patience is something that you constantly have to work on," Burns said "You know, especially as someone who likes to compete and try to win, which unfortunately doesn't happen a lot, I think patience say big part of not just golf, but life. "We're constantly inconvenienced by something, and so trying to be more patient is good for all of us, especially for me. " LIVE: Masters 2026 leaderboard: Live updates, round 1 scores, predictions Patience is required around Augusta National.