Sam Burns Shares Masters Lead After Career‑Best 67

American golfer Sam Burns opened the 90th Masters Tournament with a five‑under‑par 67, pulling level with defending champion Rory McIlroy at five under. Burns capitalized on Augusta’s longest holes, particularly the par‑5s, to post his best round at the major to date.

The 29‑year‑old, a former LSU All‑American who earned the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year award in 2016‑17, has steadily risen since representing the United States on the winning 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup team and finishing T‑6 at the Barbasol Championship that same year. His performance marks his third share of the lead in a major and follows a second‑round lead at the 2025 U.S. Open.

Burns said the historic course “doesn’t let you dwell on past results or future pressure,” a mindset that helped him navigate the final stretch and stay beside McIlroy after the first round. With five PGA Tour victories already, the young star now has a clear path to contend for his first major title.