Sam Burns Just Went Beast Mode at the U.S. Open—Here’s How
Let’s be real—the U.S. Open eats golfers alive. But Sam Burns? The guy didn’t just survive, he straight-up owned the course with a 5-under 65. And get this—he nearly imploded on day one. That’s the wild part. One minute he’s fighting to stay alive, next thing you know he’s leading the pack. At 27, this might finally be his breakout major moment. But man, the way he got here? That’s a story.
From “Oh Crap” to “Hell Yeah”: Burns’ Crazy Two Days
Thursday: Dude Almost Lost It
Man, that first round was ugly. Like watching someone try to parallel park a Lamborghini—awkward and painful. Burns kept missing fairways, those putts weren’t dropping, and you could see him getting pissed. Then—boom—he sinks a clutch birdie on 14 like flipping a switch. Saved par on 17 with this ridiculous 10-footer. Finished even par, which honestly felt like a win after that mess.
Friday: Absolute Fire
Next day? Different guy showed up. Five birdies, no bogeys until the very last hole. But here’s the kicker—on 18, he’s got this slippery 8-footer to stay ahead. No sweat. Drops it like he’s putting into a bucket. That 65 wasn’t just good—it was surgical. And now suddenly everyone’s like, “Wait, is Burns actually winning this thing?”
That One Moment Everything Changed
Thursday’s Meltdown That Wasn’t
Okay, so hole 13 on Thursday—total disaster. His drive goes AWOL, he misses a bogey putt, and for a second there? You could see him losing it. And Burns never loses it. “Yeah, I kinda lost my cool,” he admitted later. But here’s the thing—he reset faster than my WiFi after I unplug the router.
The Save That Changed Everything
Fast forward to Friday’s 18th. His approach shot’s in the rough—not ideal. Most guys go for the hero shot. Burns? Plays it smart, chips out safe, drains the putt. J.J. Spaun, playing with him, said it best: “That right there? That’s how you win majors.” And he’s not wrong.
Why Burns Might Actually Pull This Off
Dude’s Got Ice in His Veins Now
Remember the 2022 Masters when he choked? Yeah, not this time. Now when things go sideways, he turns into some zen putting machine. Brandel Chamblee put it perfectly: “He’s learned to turn panic into pars.” And that’s the difference between contenders and champions.
That Sneaky Putt Adjustment
Here’s the inside baseball—he widened his putting stance just a hair. Sounds like nothing, right? Wrong. Gained him nearly 3 strokes on the field Friday. In a tournament where every shot counts? That’s huge.
The Guys Trying to Catch Him (Good Luck With That)
The Chase Pack
Spaun’s one back and playing solid, but let’s be honest—he’s no closer to catching Burns than I am to running a marathon. Rory’s hanging around at -3, but his driver’s all over the place. And Tom Kim? Kid’s got game, but majors are a different beast.
The Real Enemy: The USGA
Here’s the thing—the course is only gonna get nastier. Pins will be brutal, greens like concrete. And Burns only hits half his fairways? That’s trouble. Butch Harmon’s not wrong—”Saturday’s when we find out who’s for real.”
Can Burns Actually Win This Thing?
What the Numbers Say
Oddsmakers love him now (3-1 favorite), but stats say only 1 in 3 leaders at this point actually win. Then again, when your putter’s this hot? Numbers don’t mean squat.
What a Win Would Mean
We’re talking career-changing stuff. Goes from “that guy who’s always close” to “major champion.” And for a guy people said was too nice to win big? That’d be some sweet revenge.
Bottom Line
Burns didn’t just play well—he showed us something new. When things got tough, he got tougher. Now comes the hard part: doing it two more days. But if he keeps putting like this? Golf might have itself a new superstar.
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Source: ESPN – News
