Oakmont, as ever, isn’t here to make friends. Day Two of the U.S. Open saw dreams dashed, tempers flared, and clubs flung as the course bared its teeth and chewed up the field. Sam Burns somehow managed to tame the beast with a blistering 65, while big names like Bryson, Rory, and Rahm found themselves fighting for survival—or heading home. If Thursday was a gentle slap, Friday was a full-on haymaker.
🌪️ Sam Burns Surges
Sam Burns lit it up with a spectacular 65 (−5) – which is the lowest round of the tournament so far – to seize a solo clubhouse lead at −3 overall. With red numbers on only three players through 36 holes, Burns’ combination of hot putting and clever ball‑striking destroyed the rest of the field and is one of the best Major rounds we can remember in some time.
🏌️ J.J. Spaun Slides
The overnight pacesetter, Spaun, slipped with a steady but unspectacular 72, finishing at −2 to trail Burns by a shot. The hard‑charging Thristan Lawrence and Viktor Hovland also sit one and two back, respectively, with just those three players in red entering the weekend. Oakmont is very much your Grandfather’s US Open.
🎯 Scheffler, Wings Clipped
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who looked off‑pace early, managed a +1 second round to creep in at +4, but seven shots behind. He’ll need a big performance on moving day to stay in contention, but if he could shoot something similar to what Burns did today he’d be very well placed for Sunday.
😫 Frustration Galore
Rory McIlroy experienced another tormented day. Double bogeys early, a tee‑marker smash, a club throw, but he finished with a respectable (72) and just sneaked under the cut mark at +6 to book his spot for the weekend. Jon Rahm bemoaned his putting after a 75 dropped him to +4, lamenting he “didn’t make a putt…very frustrating”.
😳 Brooks Serves Us A Dose Of Humble Pie
We’d been smelling ourselves a little yesterday after our pre-tournament pick got off to a fantastic start, but Koepka brought us down a peg or two by shooting a 74 to slip back. He’s still went in contention, but we’re not so chesty today. Lesson learned? Not a chance.
📬 Bombshells: Cutlist Hits
Defending champ Bryson DeChambeau faltered with a brutal 77 to finish at +10, well outside the cut (projected around +7), joining Phil Mickelson, Justin Thomas, Ludvig Åberg, and Sepp Straka in the exit list.
🎯 Victor Perez Tames The Beast
Victor Perez produced a stunning hole‑in‑one on the par‑3 6th. A rare Oakmont ace and the first since 1983, as the Frenchman stormed back to even par on the day and +1 for the Championship. Très bien, Vic!
📰 What It All Means
Sam Burns is in hot form and has Oakmont figured out for now.
Spaun, Lawrence & Hovland are breathing down his neck, ready to pounce.
Scheffler and Rory will need resilience to keep weekend hopes alive.
DeChambeau’s title defence ends early—Oakmont extracted its toll.
