Scottie Scheffler’s impact on Sam Burns as Open contender fires 62 at Royal Birkdale

Scottie Scheffler’s mastery with a golf ball is rubbing off on the chasing pack at Royal Birkdale. Sam Burns, the American chasing his first major, tied the Open Championship scoring record with a second-round 62 on Friday, 18 July 2026, and singled out world No. 1 Scheffler as the biggest influence on his sudden links surge.

What happened at Royal Birkdale?

Sam Burns carded an eight-under 62 at Royal Birkdale to move to five under for the championship, three shots behind the 36-hole lead. His round matched the Open’s lowest score in history, equalling the mark set by Lucas Herbert earlier in the day. Burns now has a real chance to erase his poor Open record, which includes a tie for 31st at Royal Troon in 2024.

How has Scottie Scheffler shaped Sam Burns’ game?

Burns was asked about Scheffler’s impact after his round. He joked about the name mix-up-“Scottie as in Adam Scott?”-then turned serious. “Watching him, the way that he can control a golf ball, is insanely impressive,” Burns said. “If I keep playing enough with him, it’ll be a kind of osmosis effect, I suppose. But I think it is nice to be able to pick his brain and see what he’s thinking on different holes on different shots with different winds.”

The two have shared multiple practice rounds this week at the final major of the 2026 season. Burns admitted he used Scheffler as a sounding board on tricky holes, asking the world No. 1 about strategy and club selection under links conditions.

Why Scheffler matters for the chasing pack

Scheffler, chasing a fifth Grand Slam title, was also in action as Burns finished. The Texan has already claimed The Masters twice and the PGA Championship and Open once. His presence on the course is changing how rivals prepare. Burns, still seeking his first major after a runner-up finish at this year’s US Open, said Scheffler’s control under pressure is the gold standard.

“You feel like you’ve hit a decent shot, and you get up there, and the next thing you know you’re hitting it backwards,” Burns said of links golf. “That’s kind of been something I’ve tried to work on-trying to be more accepting and still getting there.”

What comes next for Sam Burns?

Burns now has a real shot at a first major. His opening 73 and closing 62 show rapid improvement on his usual Open struggles. The wind is forecast to pick up for later starters, adding another variable as he eyes a top-10 finish. A breakthrough would cap a week where he’s grown into the championship.

Burns’ sudden rise comes as Scheffler eyes another major. The world No. 1 remains the man to beat, but the chasing pack-fueled by his insights-is closer than ever.