Sam Burns did what many people would deem impossible on Friday at the 2025 US Open. Burns claimed the 36-hole lead at Oakmont Country Club with a five-under 65, the best round of the tournament through two rounds. Burns holds a one-shot lead over 18-hole leader JJ Spaun, who dropped two shots after his opening-round 66.

There's no such thing as a quick 18 holes at the U.S. Open, particularly when it's at Oakmont. Players needed more than 5 1/2 hours or more to get through each of the opening two rounds, much slower than what they might find at a regular tour stop.

The beast that is Oakmont Country Club is putting pro golfers through a difficult test at the 2025 U.S. Open. Who's in danger of missing the cut?

The 54-year-old, who fell one shot short of the weekend at Oakmont, won’t have a guaranteed spot in next year’s field.

Scottie Scheffler battled his way to a 1-over 71 at the U.S. Open. That was a slight improvement on his first-round 73 but still not the type of performance that’s made him the game’s dominant player the past three years.

All three were between seven and eight shots behind the leader, and all were in danger of being cut Friday. The U.S. Open remains golf’s cruelest test.

One surprise the model is calling for at the 2025 U.S. Open: Spaun, who is in solo second place and has the third-lowest odds at +700, stumbles over the weekend and falls all the way out of the top 5. The 34-year-old American has virtually no track record of success in major play.