One of the most famous golf circuits, like the PGA Tour, can also become a lonely place without friends. You can ask Robert MacIntyre all about it. The Scot found the American circuit isolating but when it comes to Scottie Scheffler, he did not face the same challenge when he joined the Tour in 2020. Despite the intense on-course competition, Scheffler established friendships with many of his competitors, including Sam Burns. A friendship that might last a lifetime. But what sparked this friendship between Scheffler and Burns, even though they were never together during their collegiate careers?

The answer stems from their shared love for faith in Christ, which serves as the foundation of their friendship. Since Scheffler’s PGA Tour debut in 2020, the two have shared many rental houses, barbecue nights at TOUR’s Bible study, and also encouraged each other with occasional pep talks, keeping each other grounded. Scheffler once said, “If my head actually gets too big, he will be the first to say, ‘You’re being a real jackwagon.’”

When world No. 1 struggled for his maiden victory on the PGA Tour and thought it might never come, it was Burns who helped him to ease down and focus just on the game rather than the results. And as true friendship endures through good and bad times, Burns and Scheffler have been part of each other’s success and failure equally. Last year, Scheffler won the green jacket for the first time but Burns missed the cut. Yet he and his wife prayed for his success at Augusta National.

A month later, the two 28-year-olds found each other facing off for the Charles Schwab Challenge title. They entered a playoff and Burns took the victory in the first playoff hole. It was his third win of the 2021–22 season and Scheffler, although he lost, embraced his friend to celebrate the moment with him. Talking about shared experiences, the two have also faced losses together. They never won the 2023 Presidents Cup match, even after being paired together three times.

And at the Marco Simone, when Burns made his Ryder Cup debut with Scheffler, they lost by a crucial one point to Tyrrell Hatton and Jon Rahm. But in the end, they didn’t. With the help of their friendship and faith, the two PGA Tour pros moved on. The friendship even helped in making Scheffler adopt a healthy habit that his wife even struggled to instill in him despite her repeated efforts.

The tale of chickpea pasta and Scottie Scheffler

Of all the things in the world, Scottie Scheffler never liked the idea of eating chickpea pasta. While Meredith and Scottie Scheffler were engaged, the former tried many times to convince her then-fiance to eat the same, but the 28-year-old never listened. However, one day the 2-time major winner texted her and said that he had the chickpea pasta, leaving her astonished.

Meredith Scheffler thought to herself, “Who is this saint that’s getting my husband to eat chickpea pasta?” It turned out to be Sam Burns’s wife, Caroline Burns. With the husbands being best friends, the wives also struck a strong bond. The four are more like family than just friends and spend most of their time together at different PGA Tour events.

The friendship may now be tested one more time as Scheffler and Burns are in contention at the St. Jude Championship. Although both want each other to succeed, who will take the title this time? It remains to be seen.