The Ryder Cup is just around the corner, and Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns are gearing up to represent the USA against Europe. However, it wasn’t long ago that the prestigious tournament nearly caused a rift between these lifelong buddies as the tension for this year’s face-off intensifies.
World No. 1 Scheffler and Burns, both 29, have been friends since their early days on the PGA Tour. Burns, a Louisiana native, even served as the best man at Scheffler’s wedding when he married Meredith Scudder in December 2020. It comes as Scheffler made his feelings clear on Donald Trump attending the Ryder Cup.
Over the years, their families have become tight-knit, sharing rental homes during various tour stops, vacationing together, and hosting couples’ board game nights. Yet, their friendship was tested in 2021 when both golfers were vying for the final spot on the Ryder Cup team.
US captain Steve Stricker decided to pass over Burns, a five-time PGA Tour winner, informing him that he didn’t make the cut. The coveted position instead went to Scheffler, who hadn’t yet clinched a win on the tour.
However, rather than letting any potential bitterness linger, the New Jersey-born star and his wife reached out to their long-time friend for a half-hour conversation to address the feelings that the snub had stirred up.
“That can ruin a friendship if it’s not something that’s talked about,” Scheffler commented on the incident. Burns chimed in: “Me, Caroline, Scottie and Meredith spent a long time on a phone call with these weird emotions of like, ‘Man, I am really sad but also happy for him’. If it had been someone else, I would have been more disappointed that I wasn’t on the team.”
Stricker’s decision turned out to be spot-on as Scheffler triumphed over former world No. 1 Jon Rahm in a US victory. Scheffler’s remarkable rise, which includes four major wins in recent years, hasn’t affected his relationship with Burns.
Giving us a peek into their morning routine before last year’s US Open at Oakmont, Scheffler showed just how tight-knit they are.
“The conversation in the morning will be that we’ll just hang out, there will be our two little kids running around. There’s nothing crazy, there’s not much to say,” he shared. “Sam has been gearing up for moments like this for a long time and he’s positioned himself to win the golf tournament.”
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Speaking about his friend, Burns stated in 2024: “Scottie is obviously an incredible player, I don’t think I need to say that. We spend a lot of time together and being able to talk to him, learn from him and ask him questions has been really cool.
“As good of a player he is, he’s an even better guy and I think that’s what makes it really special to watch, you want to root for someone like that. He’s an easy guy to root for. It’s been nice to pick his brain and ask him certain things.”
Burns is set to make his second consecutive appearance in the Ryder Cup following a 2025 season that saw him finish in the top six on the PGA Tour six times. Meanwhile, Scheffler will be entering the New York event fresh off victories in The Open and PGA Championship this year.