From delivery room to Claret Jug dream, Burns takes Open lead

SOUTHPORT, England, July 18 : American Sam Burns did not even expect to be playing at the 154th British Open with his pregnant wife Caroline's due date two days before the start of the championship at Royal Birkdale.

But daughter Belle arrived early, Burns caught the plane and with a two-shot lead heading into Sunday's fourth round he could celebrate with his first major triumph.

After a disappointing opening round of three-over 73, the 29-year-old has ripped up the Royal Birkdale course with a men's major record-equalling 62 on Friday and a 65 on Saturday.

"This golf tournament was honestly so far off of my radar and expectations of playing," Burns, who finished runner-up at the U.S. Open this year, told reporters.

"I mean, Caroline's due date was Tuesday this week. She was like four days late with our son. I just didn't think there was any possible way, and little Belle had different plans for us."

Even when his daughter arrived early, Burns was not sure about leaving his family but his wife intervened.

"I wasn't thinking much about it. Caroline was kind of like, so what are you thinking for next week? I was like, I don't know. Should we talk about it? She was like, yeah," he said.

"Ultimately she's the one that really encouraged me to come over and play. She basically said I've got this at home. Go over there and give it your best, and here we are."

Burns finished bogey, bogey, bogey on Thursday and it looked as though he might be booking an early return ticket back to Louisiana. But some more words of wisdom from his wife helped him clear his mind for a challenge for the Claret Jug.

"I was pretty upset. That's an understatement," Burns, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour, said. "Talked to Caroline, texted with her, and she