OAKMONT, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Seven times the champion of the US Open at Oakmont was a first-time major winner. Seven out of nine. With the exception of Adam Scott, no one in the top 10 after three rounds has ever won a golf major. Sunday could be career changing for someone.
“Yeah, it would be incredible,” said third-round leader Sam Burns. “I think as a kid growing up, you dream about winning major championships and that's why we practice so hard and work so hard. All these guys in this field I think would agree that to have the opportunity to win a major is special. I'm definitely really excited.”
Only two of the last six winners at Oakmont Country Club have gone on to win the US Open (Ernie Els in 1994 and Larry Nelson in 1983) leading after the third round. Burns heads into the final round without a three putt. When Jack Nicklaus won in 1962 in a playoff, he had only one three putt in 90 holes. Burns said the big greens of his home course have prepared him well.
“I mean it's kind of everything that you prepare and hope to have the opportunity to have at these big events, let alone just getting into them are so hard,” said JJ Spaun who starts the final round a shot back. “That was me a year ago -- I mean a year and prior, like I couldn't even get into these tournaments. So to see myself here qualifying off World Ranking just based off how I've been playing all year was a nice treat. But then to kind of back up how I've been doing all year and be in contention is fun.”
Spaun was the first-round leader after a 66 and has bounced back at times when it seemed like he might fall back,
“Sure, we would all like to win, that's why we practice so hard,” said 27-year-old Viktor Hovland. “I'm well aware that I've got a chance tomorrow, and if I shoot a low round of golf tomorrow then anything can happen. But there's a lot of good players around me. Adam Scott played a brilliant round today, just didn't really miss a shot. That forces me to play some really good golf.”
“If you would have asked me start of the week if I had a chance to win on Sunday I would have been extremely happy with that, three shots behind. A lot of things can happen out here. That could go away on one hole. But I don't expect Sam or J.J. to mess it up out there. They're solid players. But I just need to figure out my driving, put the ball in play and I'm feeling really good about my game.”
Hovland has hit his irons as well as anyone this week, it’s been a streaky putter that has determined his final score each day. He’s won seven times on tour including the 2023 TOUR Championship and 2023 Memorial Tournament, about as close as you can get to a major.
Then there is the champion who won his lone major in 2013, Masters champion Adam Scott. The 44-year-old is the only player who has yet to post an above par round this week.
“It would be super fulfilling,” Scott said. “Everyone out here has got their journey, you know. Putting ourselves in these positions doesn't just happen by fluke. It's not easy to do it. I really haven't been in this kind of position for five or six years, or feeling like I'm that player. But that's what I'm always working towards.”
“It's not that easy to figure it all out. But if I were to come away with it tomorrow, it would be a hell of a round of golf and an exclamation point on my career.”
Four players, the only four under par, all with compelling stories and an opportunity to become the 10th US Open champion at Oakmont Country Club.