As Sam Burns rises at the 2026 Masters, confusion surrounding his relationship with the legendary Arnold Palmer is resurfacing. The rumor tends to gain traction whenever Burns climbs the leaderboard, especially at iconic events like the U.S. Open or the Masters Tournament. But is he really the grandson of the 62x PGA Tour winner?

There is no family connection between Sam Burns and Arnold Palmer. This confusion stems from mix-ups with Sam Saunders, who is Palmer’s actual grandson through his daughter Amy. Saunders himself is a professional golfer, which strengthens the wrong belief. However, he is not currently playing professional golf. Instead, he transitioned into roles within the Arnold Palmer legacy, including work with the Arnold Palmer Group.

Burns, on the other hand, comes from Shreveport, Louisiana. He built his own path through college golf at LSU before turning professional in 2017. His rise on the PGA Tour has kept him in the spotlight, which fuels the mistaken identity.

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Sam Burns’ early life and education

Born on July 23, 1996, the 29-year-old Sam Burns hails from Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born to Todd and Beth Burns. While growing up, he initially favored football before committing to golf. This was thanks to his father’s influence.

Todd Burns played college football at Louisiana Tech University in the early 1980s. He played under coach Billy Brewer, and that’s when Beth met him. Sam Burns was their youngest child alongside Tori and Chase. Chase also played football at Louisiana Tech.

Burns attended Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport. During his time there, he won three individual state championships as a prep standout. He then played college golf at Louisiana State University (LSU). While his entire duration there was outstanding, he dominated his sophomore year. It included four wins in 15 starts. He even earned his first-team All-American honors, SEC Player of the Year, and the 2016-17 Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year award in his sophomore year.

Burns set LSU records for single-season at 70.047. Besides that, he also set the record for career scoring average of 71.127 before turning pro in 2017.

Sam Burns’ wife and children

Sam Burns is married to Caroline Campbell, who was born in April 1996. She grew up in Shreveport, just like Sam, and is a former college track athlete. They first met at church when they were 5. At that small age, Burns gave her a Valentine’s card. After their childhood, they reconnected at LSU. They dated for about 4 years before he proposed on April 19, 2019, at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina. It was during the 2019 RBC Heritage event on the PGA Tour.

After around 4 years of dating, the two tied the knot in December 2019 and currently live in Choudrant, Louisiana. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Bear, in 2024. Bear was present at the 2026 Masters Par-3 Contest to support his father. His wife is pregnant with their second child, reportedly due in July 2026.

Sam Burns personal life

Sam Burns has not revealed a lot about his personal life to the public. He has done a wonderful job of keeping it private. However, his Instagram reveals one thing he likes a lot, and it’s hunting. In November 2024, he uploaded an Instagram post holding the horns of a deer. “Deer hunting is great again!” he wrote in the caption.