Scottie Scheffler arrived at Oakmont Country Club as the overwhelming favorite to win the 2025 U.S. Open. However, after 54 holes, it is not Scheffler who leads the pace, but rather his good friend Sam Burns.
However, the World No. 1 has played kind of a role in Burns’ result, as the US Open leader himself made clear after the third round.
“Scottie’s obviously an incredible player. I don’t think I need to say that [laughing],” Burns said.
“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.”
“As good of a player as he is, he’s a better guy, and I think that’s what makes it really special to watch, because you want to root for somebody like that. So he’s an easy guy to root for.”
“He happens to be also the best player in the world. But, yeah, it’s been nice to kind of pick his brain and ask him certain things.”
Burns carded rounds of 72, 65, and 69, putting him at 4-under par entering the fourth round. Meanwhile, Scheffler hasn’t been able to get close to the top spots on the leaderboard, carding a 73, 71, and 70 through the first three rounds.
The two players have been good friends since their junior years. It’s no coincidence that Burns was asked about Scheffler, nor is it a coincidence that the latter had given his opinion on Burns’ game the day before.
“He plays golf, I think, very freely, and he’s got really good natural instincts when it comes to his putting, and a lot of it is just very reactionary,” he said.
“He’s got good fundamentals, good instinct, and he putts very reactionary. That’s really all there is to it, it’s as simple as that.”
Sam Burns is seeking his first major title and sixth PGA Tour victory at Oakmont. Of his 20 major championship appearances, he has only finished in the top 10 once, tying for ninth at the 2023 U.S. Open.
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