Sam Burns Shines as Stars Struggle in Brutal US Open at Oakmont
Amid the carnage, Burns kept his head and delivered a brilliant five-under 65, putting him at three under par and on top of the leaderboard at the halfway point. In a tournament that has chewed up and spat out names like DeChambeau, Thomas, and Fleetwood, Burns' performance stands out like a lighthouse in a storm. And it’s not just the score—it’s how he did it. Six birdies, only one bogey, and a mental game that looked bulletproof on a day when others were losing theirs.
To give you a sense of how difficult Oakmont played, only three players are under par heading into the weekend. Burns leads JJ Spaun by one stroke and Viktor Hovland by two. That’s it. Everyone else is in the black. Rory McIlroy made the cut by a single stroke at six over, following a rollercoaster round that started with two double bogeys in his first three holes. He was so frustrated, he smashed a tee marker and flung a club down the fairway—but still, he birdied the last to stay alive. That’s grit.
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Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, also battled his way through a rough day. He posted a 71, which sounds okay until you realize it came with five bogeys. Even so, he’s just seven shots off the lead and, like McIlroy, still in the hunt.
But while those big names are hanging on, Sam Burns is quietly stealing the spotlight. The way he’s handling the greens—where most are three-putting or worse—speaks volumes. He’s leading the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting this season, and it’s showing. If he keeps rolling the rock the way he has been, he might just capture his first major title this weekend.
And let’s not forget the mental game. Burns isn’t trying to be perfect out there—a common trap at Oakmont. Instead, he’s playing smart, staying patient, and not forcing the issue. In his own words, “You’re really just shot by shot and trying to play each hole the best you can.”
In a tournament where surviving is half the battle, Sam Burns isn’t just surviving—he’s thriving. With two rounds left and the leaderboard tight, we could be witnessing the rise of a new major champion. Stay tuned.
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