Sam Burns fires 65 to grab US Open lead as big names stumble
Sam Burns of the US on the green of the ninth hole during the second round of the US Open. EPA-EFE
OAKMONT – Sam Burns matched the third-best US Open round ever fired at Oakmont, shooting a five-under 65 to seize a one-stroke lead after the second round on June 13 as big names struggled.
The 28-year-old American made six birdies against a lone bogey to stand on three-under 137 after 36 holes on the punishing layout.
'It felt like I played really well. Today was really nice,' he said. 'But there's obviously a lot of golf left on a very tough course.'
The only two US Open rounds at Oakmont lower than Burns' 65 were Johnny Miller's final-round 63 to win in 1973 and a 64 by Loren Roberts in the 1994 third round.
American J.J. Spaun made bogeys on three of the last four holes to shoot 72 and stand second on 138 with Norway's Viktor Hovland third on 139 after a 68 – the top trio being the only players under par after 36 holes.
'I was definitely anxious to get back out here and see how the game would pan out, and it ended up being a pretty good day,' Spaun said.
'It was more of a true US Open round, a lot of back and forth, a lot of grinding, bogeys. It was still an overall good day. I'm still right there.'
World No. 14 Hovland marveled at 22nd-ranked Burns and his stunning round.
'Super impressive,' Hovland called it. 'It just feels like you have to play absolutely perfect and have some good breaks going your way, as well, but it's definitely doable.'
Heavy rains drenched Oakmont, halting play for the day at 8.15pm.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy struggled to make the cut, with double bogeys at the first and third holes, but sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th to shoot 72 and stand on 146, securing a spot inside the low 60 and ties to make the weekend.
Bryson DeChambeau fired a 77 to stand on 150 and miss the cut, the first defending champion to miss the US Open cut since Gary Woodland in 2020.
Also missing the cut was six-time US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and Spain's Jon Rahm were seven adrift on 144. Scheffler fired a 71 with five bogeys and four birdies, while Rahm carded a frustrating 75.
With few exceptions, Oakmont was delivering blows to golf's top talent.
'Everyone seems like they're exhausted when they come in off the course just because it's a punch in the face,' American Denny McCarthy said. 'It just takes a lot out of you.'
Burns, who shared ninth at last year's US Open for his best Major finish, last won at the 2023 WGC Match Play, but he fired a Sunday 62 before losing a Canadian Open play-off last week.
'I felt like my game was in good form coming in here,' he added.
Australian Adam Scott and American Ben Griffin shared fourth on 140.
France's Victor Perez aced the par-three sixth hole from 192 yards, hitting the 54th hole-in-one in US Open history but only the second ace at a US Open at Oakmont. He shot 70 to stand sixth on 141. AFP
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