US Open 2025: Sam Burns sets the target at Oakmont with a 65 in second round
OAKMONT — Sam Burns is a birdie machine at Oakmont, a label not many expected at this U.S. Open. By avoiding another sloppy finish, Burns posted a 5-under 65 Friday and set the target for the late starters — and let Scottie Scheffler know the mountain he faced.
Burns has made 11 birdies through two rounds, joining Viktor Hovland for most sup-par holes through 36 holes in the three U.S. Opens at Oakmont since it switched to a par 70 in 2007.
Burns needed them to make up for Thursday's rough ending, when he was one shot out of the lead until playing his final four holes in 5-over par.
This was different. He capped off a smooth round — just one bogey — by holing a par from just outside 20 feet to reach 3-under 137.
J.J. Spaun, the 18-hole leader after a 4-under 66, was among those playing in the afternoon in muggy conditions that threatened to bring in storms.
“I played really well yesterday other than the finishing holes. So I think today was just kind of getting mentally ready to come out and try to put a good round together,” Burns said.
“It was unfortunate, but there was too much good to focus on the little bit of bad.”
Hovland twice holed 50-foot shots from off the green — a putter from the collar on No. 10 when he started his round, and chipping in for eagle on the reachable par-4 17th. He also chopped up the reachable par-4 second hole for a double bogey and wound up with a 68.
He was at 1-under 139. Burns and Hovland were the only two players from the morning wave to finish 36 holes under par.
Burns is among the top putters on the PGA Tour, though he did miss a 5-foot putt to win a playoff in the Canadian Open last week and three-putted the fourth playoff hole to lose. This was more about staying in position and eliminating as much stress as possible on a course that can be relentless.
All six of his birdies were inside 10 feet. His best putt might been an eagle attempt from over 100 feet on the par-5 fourth that he lagged to tap-in range. But the finish was big. He tugged his drive to the left on the tough par-4 ninth into a ditch, took a penalty drop, hit safely on the green and made it for par.
