PGA Tour stars Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns are close friends who’ve shared so much, but their bond was tested in 2021 over an awkward Ryder Cup incident

Scottie Scheffler saw close friend Sam Burns take the battle to him on the final few holes at the BMW Championship – having had their relationship tested by golf before.

Scheffler and his wife Meredith made a heartfelt phone call to the fellow PGA Tour player after an uncomfortable incident related to the Ryder Cup back in 2021 threatened to “ruin” their long-standing friendship. The world’s top-ranked golfer, Scheffler, has been buddies with Burns, who ranks 22nd globally, since their adolescent years, and their shared rise to fame on the PGA Tour has only deepened their connection.

Their friendship was again put in an awkward spot as Scheffler – with his stand-in caddie looking to earn a career-high payday – tried to hold off the late charge of Burns in the final few holes. It came after Scheffler had expressed his frustration after receiving an official PGA Tour warning the previous day.

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Burns, a 29 year old Louisiana native, was even the best man at Scheffler’s wedding when he tied the knot with Meredith Scudder in December 2020. Over time, their families have grown close, sharing rental homes at various tour stops, vacationing together, and even hosting couples’ board game nights.

However, their tight-knit relationship, which resembles more of a family bond, was put to the test by an awkward and unusual situation back in 2021. Both golfers were contenders for the last spot on the Ryder Cup roster, but US Captain Steve Stricker chose to overlook Burns, a five-time PGA Tour winner, calling him to let him know he didn’t make the team.

The coveted spot went to Scheffler, who hadn’t yet secured a win on the tour. But instead of letting the discomfort and potential resentment fester, the Texan and his wife took the high road, reaching out to their long-time friend for a half-hour chat to work through their feelings.

“That can ruin a friendship if it’s not something that’s talked about,” Scheffler later admitted. Burns recalled: “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.”

The choice proved to be spot-on, as Scheffler went on to beat then-world No. 1 Jon Rahm in the US triumph. Ever since, Scheffler has been on a remarkable upward path to become the most dominant player in the sport.

Yet, his incredible ascent hasn’t impacted their bond, with Scheffler offering a glimpse into what their morning schedule would involve before last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont. Scheffler said: “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.

“Sam has been preparing for moments like this for a long time and he’s put himself into a position to win the golf tournament. He’s going to go out and try to execute. At the end of the day, all he’s going to do is try to do his best and that’s what I’m going to do tomorrow as well.”

Burns continues to be a loyal friend, witnessing Scheffler’s incredible accomplishments firsthand. Beyond serving as Scheffler’s most vocal cheerleader during tournaments, he has also gained valuable insights by seeking guidance from the golf sensation.

Burns shared last year: “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.”

When questioned about whether he felt any jealousy toward Scheffler’s success, Burns honestly admitted: “Of course, as a competitor, that’s why we show up to play and we play to win. Watching him have success brings me a lot of joy.

“Him, his wife Meredith and son Bennett, they are an unbelievable family and it’s been such a joy to watch how they steward that success to others around them. The amount of respect we have for them is very high.”

It comes as Scheffler sent an emotional message to Ted Scott after the caddie missed out on a $360,000 payday.