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15th June 2025
09:31pm BST
All players started their round in a two ball from the first tee at par 70 Oakmont Country Club and the course proved to be a bit more playable due to one inch of overnight rain.
Sam Burns -3 is a five-time PGA Tour winner and his reward for been halfway leader was participating in Saturday’s final group alongside -2 JJ Spaun.
The first change to the leaderboard took place on 487 yard first hole as Spaun achieved an excellent birdie to tie Burns.
The rain put a premium on finding fairways due to wet rough & bunkers and an unforced error by Burns on the second hole resulted in Spaun becoming solo leader. “I think the golf course I play at home, Squire Creek, it's a Fazio design.
It's big surfaces and lots of slope. I'm used to having a 15 footer that may break five feet”, said Burns.
Burns is great friends with world number one Scottie Scheffler who is incredible with distance control and it looks like Burns has learned a thing or two from him as a perfect iron shot on fifth hole from 145 yards proved to be crucial in returning -3 alongside Spaun.
The back nine provides a couple more scoring opportunities and Burns hit a fantastic tee shot on 187 yard 13 th hole and rolled in his birdie putt to reach -4.
Adam Scott level par is 44 years old, looking to draw inspiration from Justin Rose who finished second to McIlroy at The Masters earlier this year and the Australian achieved three sensational back nine birdies in five holes to advance -3.
A rare surprising moment by Burns on 224 yard 16th hole as a three-putt resulted in a dropped shot but responded immediately to return -4.
“I think as a kid growing up, you dream about winning major championships and that's why we practice so hard. All these guys in this field would agree that to have the opportunity to win a major is special. I'm definitely really excited”, said Burns.
Burns -4 is the 54 hole leader due to a Saturday 69 and his nearest challengers is -3 Spaun & Scott. Viktor Hovland -1 attempting to become the first golfer from Norway to win a major suffered a poor beginning to his round due to two bogeys in three holes.
Hovland has gone down a rabbit hole regarding his swing since winning 2023 FedEx Cup but positive signs with his iron play so far this week especially with achieving three excellent birdies on ninth, 10 th and 17 th hole to reach -2.
Hovland unfortunately finished his round with a closing bogey, is the best chance of a European winning with been -1 and only three shots behind Burns. Carlos Ortiz level par is fifth and the next best chance of a European winning is +1 Tyrrell Hatton as his -2 round included finding 13 fairways.
Scheffler +4 is in search of a low Sunday to challenge but it would be amazing if either Scott or Hovland were able to win. “I've driven the ball as good as I have in a long time”, Said McIlroy.
McIlroy +6 participated in an early Saturday tee time alongside Xander Schauffele and a quiet front nine included multiple bogeys.
The 2025 Masters winner started his back nine with a brillant birdie but his body language was questionable especially after his second shot on 14 went over the green which led to another bogey.
McIlroy +10 is hoping for a positive Sunday which will give him confidence for the upcoming Travellers Championship and Genesis Scottish Open.
Golf | SportsJOE
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