How an early arrival changed Sam Burns' plans for The Open

Many were surprised to see Sam Burns show up at Royal Birkdale this week. After all, he didn't plan to play this year's Open Championship — and for good reason.

Many were surprised to see Sam Burns show up at Royal Birkdale this week. After all, he didn’t plan to play this year’s Open Championship — and for good reason. Burns and his wife Caroline have been awaiting the arrival of their second child.

The due date? Tuesday, July 14 — just two days before the opening round of the final major of the year. Naturally, Burns planned to stay home and not make the trip across the pond this year.

Even after a runner-up at last month’s U.S. Open — a near-upset of eventual winner Wyndham Clark — and a string of four straight top 20s. “I was expecting to be at home,” Burns told the PGA Tour on Wednesday. But the baby had other plans.

Sam, Caroline and newly-minted big brother Bear welcomed a baby girl, Belle, on July 3. “I still wasn’t sure if I could get there mentally,” Burns told the Tour’s website. “It’s just a weird dynamic of having a new baby, and you want to be there for them and your family.

I think it was ultimately my decision of, could I get there from a mental standpoint of having to leave?” If it was anything other than a major, Burns would probably still be at home in full dad mode, but his wife encouraged him to make the trip. The rest of the family, including proud grandparents, stayed back in Louisiana to support her.

After a few days off the course to celebrate Belle’s arrival, Burns is ready to see if he can turn a hot streak into his first major title. He’s going off at +4500 odds to win and playing in a grouping with Chris Gotterup and Adam Scott that tees off at 9:42 a.m. ET (in the afternoon locally) on Thursday.