Some of the biggest names in golf struggled at Oakmont even as Sam Burns matched the third-best US Open round ever fired at the famous course, shooting a five-under par 65 to seize a one-stroke lead.
The American, 28, made six birdies against a lone bogey to stand on three-under 137 after 36 holes on the punishing layout.
Burns's efforts were in stark contrast to the fortunes of other star players. Rory McIlroy recovered from an ugly start to his second round and made the cut by one just stroke at six over par by sinking a short birdie putt at the 18th. Bryson DeChambeau, however, did not make it to the weekend after posting a seven over 77 to go 10 over through his two rounds.
“It felt like I played really well. Today was really nice,” Burns said after the round. “There's obviously a lot of golf left on a very tough course.”
The only two US Open rounds at Oakmont lower than Burns's 65 were Johnny Miller's final-round 63 to win in 1973 and a 64 by Loren Roberts in the 1994 third round.
Another American – J.J. Spaun – made bogeys on three of the last four holes to shoot 72 and stand second on 138 with Norway's Viktor Hovland third on 139 after a 68. The top three were the only players under par after 36 holes.
“I was definitely anxious to get back out here and see how the game would pan out, and it ended up being a pretty good day,” Spaun said.
“It was more of a true US Open round, a lot of back and forth, a lot of grinding, bogeys. It was still an overall good day. I'm still right there.”
There were hopes of another epic battle between McIlroy and DeChambeau.
However, world number two McIlroy struggled to make the cut, with double bogeys at the first and third holes. He sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th to shoot 72 and stand on 146, securing a spot inside the low 60 and ties to make the weekend.
DeChambeau fired a 77 to stand on 150 and miss the cut, the first defending champion to miss the US Open cut since Gary Woodland in 2020.
Also missing the cut was six-time US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson, who needed a win to complete a career Grand Slam.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and Spain's Jon Rahm were seven adrift on 144. Scheffler fired a 71 with five bogeys and four birdies.
“Felt like me getting away with one-over today wasn't all that bad,” Scheffler said. “It could have been a lot worse.”
Rahm fired a frustrating 75.
“I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective,” Rahm said. “Very frustrated. Very few rounds of golf I played in my life where I think I hit good putts and they didn't sniff the hole.”
Heavy rains drenched Oakmont, halting play for the day late in the day, with 13 golfers yet to finish their second rounds.
