OAKMONT, PA (93.7 The Fan) – In 2022, Sam Burns ran down Scottie Scheffler after trailing by seven shots and then beat the world number one in a playoff. Burns has won five times and his 65 Friday was the round of the tournament so far at the US Open.
"It's a 72-hole golf tournament, and if you can get a round under par out here, no matter if it's 1-under, you'll take it," Burns said. "I think today was really nice with the finish I had yesterday, and it felt like I played really well. Yeah, I'm looking forward to the weekend."
He will go into the weekend three under overall after six birdies and a lone birdie on number 1, his 10th hole of the day. He hit an impressive 9 of 14 fairways, 14 of 18 greens and only 27 putts. That putt total might actually be a little high for Burns, known as one of the best putters in the game.
"I practice it a lot," Burns said. "I try to keep it very simple."
"I think if you look at putting, the ball is rolling on the ground. There's a lot of imperfections on grass. There's a lot of different lines the ball can go in, depending on the speed, so if you try to be too perfect with putting it can drive you crazy, so I just try to really read it, put a good roll on it, focus on the speed and hope for the best."
It's not just on the green where than applies, but staying patient and taking what the golf course gives him, especially at a place like Oakmont Country Club.
"I think mentally there's no just kind of gimme hole," Burns said. "There's no hole where you can get up there and just hit it and not really pay attention to what you're trying to do. I think it requires a lot of focus on every shot, and even when you're in the rough and you're trying to get it back in the fairway, it's just every shot is difficult. So really you're very focused and putting a lot into every shot mentally, and I think over time that's just pretty taxing."
You take what the course gives you, but he might approach it a little differently. The 28-year-old said he won't be passive. He's not trying to guide the ball. He's going to hit and be aggressive at times, doing so understanding there will be consequences.
Burns has three top 10's and a runner-up in 16 events this year. He was top 20 in the PGA Championship, and after a second-round 65 at the Memorial two weeks ago was three over the last two rounds. Last year, Burns had a top 10 in the US Open.
"I think at times, trying to be a little too perfect around major championship golf courses, and I think especially around here, honestly it kind of forces you to take your medicine because a lot of times that's the only option you have," Burns said. "I think for this golf course, you really just have to free it up. It's too hard to try to guide it around here. You're going to hit some in the rough, you're going to hit some in some bad spots, you might as well do it with authority."
"Yeah, it's going to be a fun weekend."
