It just showed a clever bit of awareness and foresight. In the heat of the pressure and the pouring rain, Burns stopped himself from making a potentially very costly error. It was a small moment, but the kind of decision that wins U.S. Opens.

Burns, statistically the world's best putter, hooped a clutch par save to shoot 65 Friday at Oakmont and enter this U.S. Open weekend at 3 under.

Sam Burns has the lead in the U.S. Open on a rain-soaked Oakmont course and faces his biggest test. The 28-year-old from Louisiana has never contended in 20 previous majors.

Sam Burns has a lot riding on his final round at Oakmont. A first major victory, for starters, but also a first victory of any kind since the final iteration of the WGC-Dell Match Play back in 2023. He doesn’t need any more pressure but allow us to add just a tiny bit more.

Oakmont Country Club has delivered as advertised across the first two rounds of the 2025 U.S. Open leaving most of the 156-man field battered and beaten by the toughest golf course in the United States.

Sam Burns has taken the second-round lead at the U.S. Open and several big names in the field have missed the cut as Oakmont Country Club continues to pack a punch.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.

The second round of the 2025 U.S. Open did not offer players a reprieve from the difficulties that Oakmont Country Club forces one to face as the average score of the morning wave was once again more than 4 over par.

Sam Burns capped his second-round, 5-under 65 with a 22-foot par save on his final hole. Burns ran into trouble off the tee at the par-4 ninth, his 18th, and took a penalty-stroke drop into the fairway.