Sam Burns sizzles with 65, takes surprise US Open lead

Sam Burns matched the third-lowest round ever recorded at Oakmont in US Open history, carding a five-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after Friday’s second round.

The 28-year-old American delivered a near-flawless performance, tallying six birdies and just one bogey to move to three-under 137 through 36 holes on the notoriously challenging course, as several top contenders faltered.

The only two US Open rounds at Oakmont better than 22nd-ranked Burns’s 65 are Johnny Miller’s iconic final-round 63 to win in 1973 and Loren Roberts’s 64 in the third round of the 1994 edition.


"It felt like I played really well. Today was really nice," Burns said. "There's obviously a lot of golf left on a very tough course."


Overnight leader JJ Spaun slipped with bogeys on three of his final four holes, finishing with a two-over 72 to drop to second place at two-under 138.

Norway’s Viktor Hovland climbed into third with a solid 68, sitting at one-under 139 — making the trio of Burns, Spaun, and Hovland 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."

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau won’t be around, carding a disastrous 77 to finish at 150 and miss the cut — becoming the first reigning US Open winner to miss the weekend since Gary Woodland in 2020.

World number two Rory McIlroy narrowly made the cut after a shaky start that included double bogeys at the first and third holes. He recovered late, sinking a clutch five-foot birdie putt at the 18th to post a 72 and finish at six-over 146 — just enough to stay inside the top 60 and ties for the weekend.

Also heading home early was six-time US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson, whose quest to complete the career Grand Slam ended with a missed cut.

World number one Scottie Scheffler and Spain’s Jon Rahm sit seven shots back at four-over 144. Scheffler endured a rollercoaster 71, mixing five bogeys with four birdies.