Burns was twice denied relief from perceived temporary water on the 15th hole Sunday at Oakmont before double-bogeying the hole and losing the U.S. Open by five shots.

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.

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.

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 came into Friday knowing that he could play at Oakmont. He also knew what the course could do to him, having finished with three bogeys and one double bogey during Thursday’s opening round.

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.

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.