OAKMONT, Pa. — Sam Burns, the World No. 22, seized the 36-hole lead at the 2025 U.S. Open with a sensational 5-under-par 65 on Friday at Oakmont Country Club, vaulting to 3-under for the championship. The 28-year-old’s one-bogey round, featuring six birdies, was the week’s best, tying for the third-lowest U.S. Open score ever at Oakmont.

Burns holds a one-shot edge over J.J. Spaun (66-72, -2) and a two-shot cushion over Viktor Hovland (70-68, -1), the only players under par through two rounds.

Oakmont’s punishing layout has humbled golf’s biggest names, leaving a leaderboard devoid of star power: five-time major winner Brooks Koepka was five off the pace, two clear of world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (73-71, +4) and Jon Rahm (69-75, +4) who sit seven back, while Rory McIlroy (74-73, +6) barely made the cut.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau (73-77, +10) missed the weekend entirely as did marquee names like Ludvig Aberg (72-76, +8), Patrick Cantlay (76-72, +8), Tommy Fleetwood (74-75, +9), Cameron Smith (75-73, +8), Phil Mickelson (74-74, +8), Joaquin Niemann (75-75, +10), Dustin Johnson (75-75, +10), Sepp Straka (78-73, +11), Justin Rose (77-77, +14), and Shane Lowry (79-78, +17). Justin Thomas’s collapse (76-76, +12) marked his seventh missed cut in 11 majors.

Burns, with five PGA Tour wins but no major top-10s, capitalized on pinpoint iron play and a hot putter, gaining 9.41 strokes on the field, per DataGolf.

“I just stayed patient and let the course come to me,” Burns said.

Spaun, the first-round leader, battled to a 72, while Hovland’s steady 68 kept him in contention. Adam Scott (70-70) and Ben Griffin (69-71), both even-par, round out the top five.

With rain halting play Friday night and 13 players yet to finish, the cut line stands at 7-over. Burns, who lost a playoff at the recent RBC Canadian Open, faces a golden opportunity to claim his first major.

“I’m right where I want to be,” he said. Saturday’s third round resumes at 7:30 a.m. ET, with Burns teeing off at 2:45 p.m. ET.