OAKMONT, PA. Sam Burns has never won a major championship but the 28-year-old has one round to go in order to do so. He commands a one-stroke lead over Aussie Adam Scott and fellow-American J.J. Spaun.

Burns scored a third round 69 with three birdies, two bogeys and the rest pars for a total of 206 strokes. He is also one of two players who have not had a three-putt green on the treacherous putting surfaces that are the hallmark of what makes Oakmont a fierce test.

The players were forced to deal with varying weather conditions during the third round as rain showers took place primarily during portions of play Saturday. Overnight rains heading into the weekend also impacted playing conditions as moist turf meant a longer playing Oakmont. At a certain point in time during the round there was rain falling on one portion of the course and on the other side of the property the sun was shining.

At the conclusion of Saturday’s play only the three aforementioned players, as well as Viktor Hovland, had reached under-par totals for the championship.

Burns came into the US Open this week after nearly claiming the RBC Canadian Open the week prior. In the event in Canada his final round score of 62 was nearly good enough to win before being caught by Ryan Fox and then outlasted in a sudden-death playoff.

The Louisiana-native is well aware of what a US Open win can do for his career but he remains focused on the rigors a final round will produce.

“Yeah, I think as if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a hundred times, but this golf course is difficult. It takes a lot of patience,” said Burns. “I think today I didn’t drive the ball as well as I would have liked to. But when I got out of position I feel like I did a good job of getting myself back in the fairway, having a wedge or short iron in my hand and giving myself a chance for par. I was able to convert some of those and kind of kept the momentum going. So that was kind of key to the round today.”

Burns has a close personal relationship with the number one player in the world Scottie Scheffler and he watched his friend separate himself from others with 16 PGA Tour wins, including three major victories, all happening in a space of just three years from 2022.

“Scottie’s obviously an incredible player. I don’t think I need to say that (laughing). But I think we obviously spend a lot of time together and being able to talk to him and just kind of learn from him and ask him questions, it’s been really cool.”

Seven past winners at Oakmont claimed their first major title at the famed club.

Burns realizes the stakes involved and how adding his name to that small grouping of winners will take a quality round to secure the title.

“Yeah, it would be incredible. 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 for tomorrow.”

The 22nd ranked player in the world secured his best finish in a major championship last year at the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst when finishing for the first time among the top ten.

The twists and turns in a final US Open round will mean staying focused on matters as they happen – getting neither too far ahead or lingering over the outcome of a previous shot.

Discipline and patience will be uppermost on his mind.

Major championships determine legacies. No one needs to remind Burns what a win at Oakmont can mean.

“Yeah, it’s incredible. I think there’s a — you know this place is special in itself and the history here and all the people that have been before me and walked these grounds and played here, it’s really special.”

The forecast for Sunday in the immediate Pittsburgh area calls for intermittent rain showers with the possibility of late after thunder storms occurring.

In the event a tie happens – the format provides for a two-hole aggregate total. If players are still tied then a sudden-death playoff format will ensue until a winner is determined.

Related: How the top ranked players are faring?

2025 US Open / Oakmont CC.