OAKMONT, Pa. — 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 on Friday and set the target for the late starters — and let Scottie Scheffler know the mountain he faced.

American’s second-round 65 has him alone atop the U.S. Open while favorites like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau struggle.

Sam Burns was selected as Amanda Balionis' U.S. Open pick - and the American is in contention at Oakmont, after an impressive second round saw him card a 65 to sit at three-under

He shrugged it off afterward, pointing to all the positives instead. He'll wake up Sunday in contention at the U.S. Open. During the tournament's last trip to Oakmont nine years ago, he shot back-to-back 76s to miss the weekend by six.

Burns has been playing some of his best golf of the year heading into the 2025 U.S. Open, after losing in a playoff to Ryan Fox at the RBC Canadian Open June 8. He hopes he can ride that momentum through Sunday. Here is a look at how Sam Burns has done at the four golf majors in his career.

Sam Burns bolted to the lead in the U.S. Open with a brilliant 5-under 65 on Friday. Can he hold it on moving day? Just three players remain under par heading into the weekend at Oakmont, which spent most of Friday chewing up and spitting out everyone but Burns, who sits at 3-under, one shot ahead of J.J. Spaun.

Scottie Scheffler is trying to win his first U.S. Open title but sits seven shots behind leader Sam Burns after two rounds, with J.J. Spaun and Viktor Hovland also in contention

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler are among the favourites to win the 125th US Open, but neither have been able to get to grips with the Oakmont Country Club's troubling greens