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.

Adam Scott put his approach in the tall grass behind the green. Sam Burns left his on the slope of a trap. Neither got on the green from there ... and from there, things continued to derail for both players. Both had long bogey putts.

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 revealed the role that his friend, Scottie Scheffler, has played in his career, including his status as the 54-hole leader of the 2025 U.S. Open.

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 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.