Sam Burns electrified the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club (Pennsylvania) on Friday, carding a blistering 5-under 65—the best score of the week—to surge to 3-under and take a one-stroke lead entering the weekend. Burns’ precision iron play and clutch putting proved decisive; six birdies—five inside 10 feet—and a gutsy 22-foot up-the-hill par save on the final hole sealed his clubhouse lead.
Commenting on Oakmont’s notoriously tough setup, Burns said: “The golf course is really too difficult to try to figure out what’s a good score and what’s not. You’re really just shot by shot…”. His disciplined approach minimized mistakes and kept him one shot ahead of J.J. Spaun and Viktor Hovland, the only other players playing in red.
Chase Pack: A Tight Leaderboard
- J.J. Spaun sits at 2-under after a 72 that saw a late wobble—bogeys on 15 and 16—but a timely birdie at 17.
- Viktor Hovland, two strokes back at 1-under, impressed with a chip-in eagle on the par‑4 17th and a solid 68 .
- Adam Scott and Ben Griffin tied for fourth at even-par, each two shots behind Hovland.
Remarkably, no former U.S. Open champions remain in the top five after 36 holes—a first since 2021.
McIlroy’s Rollercoaster: Club-Throwing to Cut Made
Rory McIlroy endured a dramatic second round: two early double bogeys, a club-flinging meltdown, then a walk-off birdie to break the cut at 6-over 72, tying for the final qualifying spots . His round began disastrously, but he regrouped dramatically—stamped by a smashed tee marker at the 17th and an iron toss on 12—but crucially rolled in a 5‑foot birdie on 18 that saved his weekend hopes.
Despite this emotional frenzy, McIlroy remains nine strokes behind Burns as third-round play approaches . He’ll aim to convert his late-round momentum into consistency across the weekend.
Notable Early Exits & Weather Conditions
- Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, along with Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, and others, failed to make the cut—DeChambeau enduring a rough 10-over 10-over across two rounds.
- Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, bogeyed his way to a 4-over 71, leaving him seven shots behind Burns but nonetheless in contention.
- Oakmont’s **punishing conditions—narrow fairways, thick rough, lightning-delayed play, and penal greens—**have humbled many top players.
- Forecasts show supportive weather through the weekend, with light rain and soft greens potentially allowing scores to hover around par—meaning Burns may need to stay sharp to hold his lead.
Weekend Outlook
As the tournament swings into the weekend, the golf narrative intensifies:
- Burns aims to convert momentum into a career-defining major win. His calm, mature approach is now under pressure.
- Hovland and Spaun lurk nearby, propelled by under‑par rounds and confidence in their short games.
- McIlroy’s comeback storyline—rocky, emotional, but alive—could captivate fans. His late surge positions him as a sneaky pick for a Sunday charge.
- Scheffler’s consistency makes him a potential threat despite early struggles.
- The demise of marquee names like DeChambeau offers other contenders a clearer path to the trophy.
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Final Summary
Sam Burns now holds the halfway lead at –3 after an inspired 65, with Spaun and Hovland in pursuit. McIlroy survived dramatic lows to make the cut at +6, setting the stage for a gripping third round. With unpredictable Oakmont conditions, weekend play promises high drama—Burns chasing his first major, McIlroy fighting back, and a host of challengers ready to strike.
