The 2024 PGA Tour season is well underway, which means there are plenty of reunions for some of the world’s top golfers. Justin Thomas opted to use this weekend’s American Express Tournament as a chance to extract some repayment from fellow golfer Sam Burns. Burns, who is well known for his wacky or on-theme hair styles, showed up for the AmEx with RTR (Roll Tide Roll) shaved into his head.
Thomas, an Alabama alum, let everyone know that the choice was “definitely not” because of a bet. Alabama beat the LSU Tigers 42-28 in early November. Luckily, the former LSU golfer had a hat to keep his head protected from the sun, and the Bama fans.
“I love your new haircut Sam Burns. For sure didn’t lose a bet and did it on your own RTR,” Thomas shared on his Instagram story.
Burns, a five-time PGA TOUR winner, rocked a mullet through most of last season. He made headlines for shaving USA into his hair for the Ryder Cup in September. He finished the American Express tied for 6th at -25. Justin Thomas was tied for 3rd with Xander Schauffele at -27. Both golfers shot a 61 during the four-round tournament with Burns’ coming in the second and Thomas’ in the third.
Alabama amateur wins American Express
This weekend had a strong showing from Alabama golf. Nick Dunlap put himself in some rarified air this weekend at the American Express Championships in La Quinta, California. He shot 29-under par for the weekend, becoming the first amateur golfer to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson did it in 1991.
Dunlap’s third round was nearly flawless. The Alabama star managed to card a 60 on Saturday, the lowest round by an amateur in PGA Tour history.
His 29-under (259 total) is the tournament record since the event moved to a 72-hole format in 2012. Dunlap is the youngest winner of the PGA Tour since Jordan Spieth won the 2013 John Deere Classic, when he was 19 years old.
Unfortunately, since he’s an amateur, the Alabama star will walk away with no prize money. South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who finished second place (28-under par), will take home the $1,512,000 check for first place.
In August of 2023, Dunlap joined Tiger Woods as the only golfers to ever win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur crowns. He brought home the most coveted prize in all of amateur golf at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. He won the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship after he defeated Ohio State star Neal Shipley.
On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this report.
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