Sam Burns plays British Open days after baby arrives

Sam Burns is competing at the British Open just days after his wife Caroline gave birth to their second child, a daughter, Belle.

SOUTHPORT, England – Belle arriving early was a beautiful thing for Sam Burns. As a result, her daddy is here at Royal Birkdale Golf Club to compete in the 154th British Open. Belle was born on July 3, a full 11 days before she was expected to say, ‘Hello world.’

Congrats to Sam and wife Caroline on the birth of their second child as Belle joined big brother Bear. “I was expecting to be at home,” Burns told PGA Tour.com on Wednesday. Instead, the world No. 18 was able to make the trip across the pond from his home in Louisiana – his parents stuck around to help out – and chase that elusive first major title.

Burns was the runner-up to Wyndham Clark last month at the U.S. Open and was emotional afterwards about how much he wanted to win the title for his father on Father’s Day. Burns, who turns 30 next Thursday, arrived on Monday and played a nine-hole practice round each day, including the back nine alongside pal Scottie Scheffler on Wednesday at Birkdale and was scheduled to tee off in the first round at 2:31 p.m. local time. “I still wasn’t sure if I could get there mentally,” Burns said.

“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?” This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Sam Burns plays British Open days after baby arrives