U.S. Open live Saturday: Sam Burns holds solo lead for 2nd straight day at Oakmont
Golfers might find a more receptive Oakmont Country Club during the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday, as overnight rains pelted the course and — for now — softened conditions.
The third round got underway shortly after 9 a.m.
7:55 p.m.
On the 320-yard par-4 17th hole, Sam Burns and J.J. Spaun, who have shared or traded the lead all day, made a statement that they’re the players to beat Sunday.
Burns nearly holed his 39-yard second shot and Spaun made a 13-foot putt as both made birdie to go to 4-under for the tournament.
Burns, however, made par on the 18th to finish at 4-under and hold sole possession of the lead at the end of the second straight day. Spaun made bogey and slipped into a second-place tie with Adam Scott at 3-under.
Victor Hovland, at 1-under, is the only other player under par for the tournament.
6:45 p.m.
Of the players on the front page of the leaderboard, Adam Scott is the only former major champion. He’s been playing like it lately, too. Scott made back-to-back birdies on the par-13th and the par-4 14th to move to 2-under for the tournament. He hasn’t made a bogey since the first hole.
Scott is three strokes behind leader Sam Burns and four in back of J.J. Spaun.
6:15 p.m.
What would be a goal tomorrow for world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler?
“Play better. Hit some fairways, hit some greens, hole a few putts,” he said.
Scheffler shot even-par 70 in Round 3 and is still at 4-over for the tournament, which for now is tied for 14th.
“I felt like I had a hard time getting momentum,” he said. “I made a few silly mistakes out there, a couple three-putts, which is just a killer. Overall I felt like I was battling hard. You’re going to make little mistakes out here. There’s so much pitch on the greens. It’s really challenging, and I did a pretty good job, I think, today of staying patient, still getting in and posting a score.”
5:15 p.m.
Bogey-free rounds are extremely rare at Oakmont, but Carlos Ortiz, a 34-year-old from Mexico, is working on one today. Ortiz, the winner of the 2020 Houston Open who now plays in LIV Golf, has made two birdies on the front and two birdies on the back to move from 3-over after two rounds to 1-under now, two strokes off the lead.
5 p.m.
Heavy overnight rains did soften up Oakmont Country Club, but by no means does that mean the course is a pushover. At the moment, only two players are under par for the tournament — co-leaders J.J. Spaun and Sam Burns at 3-under.
4:30 p.m.
There remain three players under par for the tournament, but the third player — behind co-leaders J.J. Spaun and Sam Burns (2-under) — has changed. After two rounds, it was Victor Hovland, but he made bogey on No. 1 and No. 3 to sit at 1-over. Thriston Lawrence took his place, making birdie on No. 4 and No. 6 to move to 1-under.
4:15 p.m.
J.J. Spaun and Sam Bruns began their rounds in a battle atop the leaderboard. Burns began the day at 3-under and in first but bogeyed No. 2. Spaun, who started at 2-under, had the only birdie of the day at No. 1 but then bogeyed No. 3.
2:30 p.m.
Other players making an early third-round move: Collin Morikawa, Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre and Sam Stevens. They’re all at 2-over for the tournament, five strokes off the lead.
2:10 p.m.
Big hitter Trevor Cone is among the players making an early jump up the leaderboard. Cone made birdie on three of the first six holes to improve to 1-over for the tournament, good for sixth place. A 32-year-old from North Carolina who played at Virginia Tech, Cone is making his U.S. Open debut after qualifying in Rockville, Md. Rory McIlroy leads the field with an average driving distance of 334 yards. Cone is next at 328.
1:25 p.m.
Here’s a look at the Round 3 course setup, courtesy of the USGA:
Putting green speed – Putting green speeds ranged from the mid to upper 14s on the Stimpmeter and will settle to low 14s as the day goes on. Greenskeepers triple cut all greens this morning and a fourth cut was performed on any green that was unable to be cut last night due to the suspension of play.
Tees and fairways – Because to the rain and soft conditions, tees and fairways were not mowed prior to Round 3.
• Total rainfall Friday and overnight was 1-inch
Today’s yardage:
Front 9 - 3,737
Back 9 - 3,594
Total - 7,331
• The alternate tee was used on Hole 8 for Round 3 and measures 253 yards
• Hole 17 measures 312 yards from tee-markers to the hole
• Rough was topped off last night and this morning at 5.25 inches.
12:15 p.m.
Corey Conners is making a move. He has birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 6 to move to 3-under today and is 3-over for the tournament. Marc Leishman also just birdied No. 6 and to get to 3-under today and is 3-over for the championship.. Xander Schauffele is 2-under today and 4-over par for the tournament.
11:45 a.m.
Just one players is under par for the day so far in the morning rounds.
Matt Fitzpatrick is 1-under through nine holes and remains at 6-over for the tournament.
The 2022 U.S. Open champion birdied the par-5 fourth hole, which is playing 600 yards today. He knocked in a 31-foot putt for birdie. He had pars on the remainder of his front nine.
10:50 a.m.
On Saturday morning, the USGA released the purse distribution for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
The $21.5 million purse remains the same from the 2024 championship. The winner will take home $4.3 million, the runner-up will receive $2.32 million, and the third-place finisher will earn $1.46 million.
10:30 a.m.
Some news items from early this morning:
• The USGA is offering refunds to Saturday ticket holders if they choose not to attend because of the weather forecast and wet conditions of the grounds at the course.
“We want all ticket holders to be aware of these conditions prior to arriving on-site. If they choose not to attend under these circumstances, a full refund will be provided for their Saturday ticket.”
• Former champions at Oakmont, Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller, met with the media this morning and each offered some advice to the field this weekend.
Nicklaus, the 1962 U.S. Open champion said: “Patience. Basically that’s what you have to have. Obviously you have to play good golf, but just be patient with it. … They need to know where they are and need to know what their competition is doing, and they need to be patient with themselves and play good, solid golf.”
Miller, who shot a final-round 63 to win in 1973, added: “Just get it in the fairway.”
Jack Nicklaus, the 1962 U.S. Open champ, on advice for final rounds at Oakmont: “Patience.” pic.twitter.com/zf1HygHk13
— Bill Hartlep (@BHartlep_Trib) June 14, 2025
9:45 a.m.
Philip Barbaree Jr. had to make a 5-footer early this morning to qualify for the weekend and did, and he quickly turned around and was the first golfer to tee off in the third round.
Philip Barbaree Jr. had to make this 5-footer Saturday morning to play the weekend at Oakmont. Look at what it means ????
(????: @RoyLangIII) pic.twitter.com/Lge012rF5T
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2025
Tee times for today’s round can be found here:
Round 3 will begin at 9:12 a.m. Notable groupings:
• Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele - 10:34 a.m.
• Cameron Young, Scottie Scheffler - 1:02 p.m.
• Adam Scott, Viktor Hovland - 3:24 p.m.
• J.J. Spaun, Sam Burns - 3:35 p.m.Click for all tee times ⬇️
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2025
The final 13 golfers who were left on the course in Round 2 when play was halted Friday night because of weather returned this morning to finish off their rounds.
Play resumed at 7:30 a.m. Gates opened to spectators at 8 a.m.
Hole locations
The USGA announced the hole locations for Round 3, many of which are mere feet off the edges of the greens:
Hole locations for Round 3 at Oakmont.
What stands out? pic.twitter.com/H5eTjMfdb2
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 14, 2025
TV coverage
Not able to make it to Oakmont Country Club? USA will broadcast Round 3 live from 10 a.m.-noon. NBC will have live coverage from noon to 8 p.m.
There also will be featured groups available to watch on USOpen.com and on the USGA app.
Your guide to catch all of the action from the 125th U.S. Open Championship. @NBCSports will present 21 hours of coverage on NBC, the most network exposure for any major golf championship. pic.twitter.com/V8nkl5ppNX
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 9, 2025
In case you missed it, here’s some links to TribLive’s coverage from Round 2 on Friday:
Sam Burns, golf’s best putter, 1 of few to tame Oakmont in brutal 2nd round at U.S. Open
Wet weather changes schedule for fans, golfers at Oakmont for 3rd round of U.S. Open
Phil Mickelson misses birdie putt, chance to make cut on possibly his final U.S. Open hole
Defending champ Bryson DeChambeau, fellow major winners miss cut at Oakmont
Former Sunnehanna Amateur champ Collin Morikawa’s U.S. Open dreams still alive
From the Cayman Islands to Oakmont Country Club, amateur Justin Hastings makes impression
Victor Perez’s historic ace gives him fighting chance heading into weekend at Oakmont
Gov. Josh Shapiro touts Pennsylvania as nation’s golf capital during U.S. Open visit
Jeannette couple doesn’t let U.S. Open put a divot in their wedding plans: they followed through
Steelers rookies visit Oakmont for 2nd round of U.S. Open
Fashion on the green: Spectators show their golf-inspired style at Oakmont
U.S. Open photo gallery: 2nd round
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