Sam Burns, the 28-year-old Louisiana native and former LSU Tiger, nears the cusp of his first major championship. As he nears the final round of the U.S. Open, the buzz is palpable. After a steady performance on a challenging Oakmont course, Burns holds a narrow lead at 4-under 206, with just one round remaining. This is a huge moment for Burns, who has never played in a final round of contention in any of his 20 previous major starts.
On Saturday, Burns showed incredible poise in even the unforgiving and unyielding elements of the damp course. He wobbled just twice throughout his final round, a testament to his focus and composure as he sought to hoist his first major trophy. He proved it one more time with his amazing concentration on the last hole. With a gorgeous lag from just inside 60 feet, he salvaged a 1-under 69 after all.
Burns’ performance has drawn attention as he positions himself among a crop of promising young American golfers eager to capture major championships. On the long par-3 eighth hole, he made a rare error. That close call nearly put the brakes on his momentum. He soon found his rhythm and made a strong finish to the round.
Burns ended with a 70 after a bogey made possible by the rain-softened rough on the 18th hole. Even so, he remains in a good position as he heads into the final round. He’s one shot clear of fellow competitor J.J. Spaun, who was able to get in lockstep with him over the entirety of the back nine. The two now live together during the majors and have built a tight bond on tour.
Along with Burns and Spaun, Viktor Hovland established himself as one of the top young talents on tour over the course of this tournament. Hovland has consistently displayed a positive demeanor on the course, even when conditions have posed challenges for many competitors. In light of this, his ability to par the course is further confirmation of his resilience amidst adversity.
Recent U.S. Open champion Adam Scott made headlines with a record-setting round full of skill and precision that dazzled the crowd. Scott hit 31 of 31 shots while competing during the Saturday night All-Star Game. This accomplishment truly highlighted the intense competition at this year’s U.S. Open.
As the tournament heads toward its exciting conclusion, all eyes have turned toward Burns. That’s when fans quickly start to ask whether he can take advantage of this opportunity and win his first major title. Both he and his best buddy Spaun were terrific. It should be an electrifying atmosphere on that final day!
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