OAKMONT, PA. Heading into a final round with the lead in a major championship is no easy matter. Sam Burns experienced that sensation in the most impactful manner possible.
The 28-year-old maintained his slim one-shot lead through the 10th hole before pelting rain prompted a suspension of play at just after 4:00 PM local time. The delay caused a slightly more than 90-minute suspension. When play did resume it was Burns who suffered a double-bogey at the par-4 11th
From that point onward a free-fall for Burns was set in motion.
A poorly played third shot on the par-5 12th caused him to short side himself and a bogey followed there.
But the ultimate show stopper for Burns came at the demanding par-4 15th. The tee shot from Burns stayed on the far-right side of the fairway. But when he approached the ball, he sensed a temporary amount of water had accumulated necessitating, in his mind, a free drop from that position.
However, a favorable ruling from an official was denied. Burns requested a second ruling and that too was denied.
Burns demonstrated via several practice swings the amount of water in and around his swing area. The net result had Burns pull his approach with water splattering when contact was made. Burns mouthed the word “ridiculous” before walking from that spot to the green.
Ironically, it would be water that would ultimately put out the fire in his effort in winning his first major title.
Burns outlined his feelings on the matter when his play concluded with him ultimately finishing T7 for the championship.
“Yeah, that fairway (hole 15) slopes left to right. That’s kind of the low part of the fairway there. When I walked into it, clearly you could see water coming up. Took practice swings and it’s just water splashing every single time. Called a rules official over, they disagreed. I looked at it again. I thought maybe I should get a second opinion. That rules official also disagreed. At the end of the day, it’s not up to me, it’s up to the rules official. That’s kind of that.”
This is where Burns just hit on 15. pic.twitter.com/DaA0JyX1nQ
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) June 15, 2025
The intensity of the rain that fell from the sky at Oakmont clearly changed the landscape of the course and the resulting misfires from all the players – minus winner J.J. Spaun and runner-up Robert MacIntyre was akin to high-speed car crashes.
Burns had demonstrated it throughout the first 54 holes but from the start of the final round his form was clearly off. Missed shots happened more frequently and his dependable putting stroke, which had not registered a single three-putt for three rounds, was unable to right a ship that was clearly sinking.
Burns finished the round with a score of 78. His playing partner Adam Scott fared one shot better with a closing 79.
What seemed likely at the start of the opening round, that either man would likely claim the trophy, ended with both encountering huge disappointment.
Burns came into Oakmont after losing in a playoff the week prior at the RBC Canadian Open. His second-round score of 65 was the third lowest played in a US Open at Oakmont.
“Yeah, look, I went out there and gave it the best I had. Golf’s a hard game, especially on this golf course. At the end of the day, I can hold my head high.”
Indeed he can.
However, to be that close and fail to be in the hunt when intense pressure rears its head will be a memory that Burns will need overcome. Physical talent gets a golfer only so far. Mental resolve is no less central to success.
Undoubtedly, if and when future type situations in the biggest of moments occur, the talented Louisiana native will need to learrn from his failure in Canada and at Oakmont. Closing out a win in hotly contested events is the ultimate separator in identifying the most gifted or players.
Burns had his golf game on fire for much of the week at Oakmont until water did what it always does when a blaze happens — it extinguishes it.
