US Open: Sam Burns leads going into weekend at Oakmont

LEADERBOARD -3 Burns; -2 Spaun; -1 Hovland; E Scott, Griffin; +1 Perez, Lawrence; OTHERS +4 MacIntyre; +6 McIlroy, Schauffele; +9 Fleetwood; +10 DeChambeau; +12 Thomas; +14 Rose; +17 Lowry 

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A scintillating second round 65 has given Sam Burns a narrow advantage going into the weekend at the US Open.

The American leads the way at Oakmont on three-under-par, one shot better than first round leader JJ Spaun.

Norway’s Viktor Hovland is a further shot adrift and the only other player in red numbers, with former Masters champion Adam Scott and Ben Griffin, the break-out star on the PGA Tour this year, tied for fourth on level-par.

Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, is one of only two major winners in the top-ten and ties currently, with Brooks Koepka in a share of eighth on two-over-par.

Could we see another first-timer break through in one of golf’s marquee events this weekend? Burns, naturally, would love that to be him.

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He completed his day’s work early on Friday and had the luxury of sitting back and watching as the field laboured to keep pace.

“Today was just kind of getting mentally ready to come out and try to put a good round together,” said the 28-year-old.

“I feel like I’ve been playing well coming off last week and into this week. Really just trying to get yourself in position out here and give yourself as many looks as you can.”

A five-time winner on the PGA Tour, Burns is making his 21st major start this week but has only one top-ten to his name to date, a tie for ninth in last year’s US Open at Pinehurst.

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“I think at times, I’ve tried to be a little too perfect around major championship golf courses,” he added. “Especially around here, it kind of forces you to take your medicine because a lot of times that’s the only option you have.

“It’s too hard to try to guide it around here. You’re going to hit some in the rough, you’re going to hit some in some bad spots, you might as well do it with authority. Yeah, it’s going to be a fun weekend.”

Elsewhere, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau was amongst several high-profile names to miss the cut.

Despite another sluggish and somewhat agitated performance so far, Masters champion Rory McIlroy will feature at the weekend, a birdie on his final hole squeezing the most recent career grand slam winner into the final two rounds.

Michael McEwan is bunkered's Head of Content and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Head of Content