OAKMONT, Pa. — Whenever the U.S. Open returns to Oakmont Country Club, two statistics dominate discussions. At this club, where the identity is built around a course that aims beyond mere difficulty toward the seemingly impossible, the winning score and the number of players finishing under par are celebrated achievements.
In 2016, ten golfers began the final round under par, but only four finished the tournament with red numbers. In 2007, only two players managed to card an under-par round, and that only happened in the first round. By the end, a score of 5-over par was enough for Ángel Cabrera to claim the championship trophy.
Oakmont`s ability to challenge golfers consistently makes it hard for anyone to pull away from the field. On Saturday, however, as the course was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, four players managed to distinguish themselves. Appropriately, these were the only four who navigated Oakmont`s demanding layout for 54 holes and remained under par.
“If I`ve said it once, I`ve said it a hundred times, but this golf course is difficult,” commented Sam Burns, who holds the 54-hole lead at 4-under. “It takes a lot of patience.”
The group leading the U.S. Open leaderboard heading into the final day might not be exactly what golf enthusiasts or television networks envisioned. After all, the last six major championships were won by players currently ranked among the top 10 globally. However, the four individuals – Burns, Adam Scott, J.J. Spaun, and Viktor Hovland – positioned at the top heading into Sunday promise a final round that will be fascinating due to their varied backgrounds and paths.
Consider Burns. The 28-year-old turned professional in 2017 and has secured five wins on the PGA Tour, yet he has never been a factor in a major championship in 19 previous attempts. His best finish was a modest top 10 at the U.S. Open last year at Pinehurst.
Most casual golf fans likely know Burns best for his exceptional putting and his close friendship with Scottie Scheffler. He hasn`t typically been in contention on a major stage where opinions about his game could widely form. Yet, Burns has clearly found something special this week.
Sam Burns enters the fourth round of the U.S. Open with a one-shot lead.
Indeed, Burns` putting has been as strong as expected; he`s tied for the fewest putts per round and has accumulated an impressive 12 birdies. But he has also been exceptional with his irons and wedges, leading the field in strokes gained: approach. Now, he stands on the verge of a victory that would undoubtedly be unexpected.
“It would be incredible,” Burns stated regarding the prospect of winning a major. “I think as a kid growing up, you dream about winning major championships, and that`s why we practice so hard and work so hard.”
While a win for Burns would be surprising, the performance of the player he was paired with on Saturday might be even more astonishing for the golf world. Spaun is a seasoned touring professional. At 34 years old, his career includes a single PGA Tour win from three years ago at the Valero Texas Open. Earlier this year, he competed against Rory McIlroy in a playoff at the Players Championship, appearing to falter under pressure as McIlroy claimed the win.
Many might have thought that was the last time Spaun would feature prominently on a big stage. However, the Los Angeles native has continued playing arguably the best golf of his career and now sits at 3-under par after three rounds at Oakmont, just one shot behind Burns. Only five players on Tour have been better ball strikers this year. This week, his approach play has been solid (ranking 21st), but it`s his putter that has been particularly hot, gaining him nearly three strokes on the field.
J.J. Spaun shot a 69 in the third round and is one stroke back.
“I`m not putting too much pressure [on myself],” Spaun said, later adding, “This is the best I`ve played in my career, for sure.”
Unlike Spaun or Burns, this isn`t the peak of Hovland`s career form; it`s not even close.
Just two years ago, Hovland finished in the top 20 at every major, including a tie for second at the PGA Championship. That same year, he won the BMW Championship with a course-record 61 on Sunday. Then, in 2024, he missed four cuts, changed coaches twice, and spoke openly about his constant pursuit of the perfect swing. Despite struggles, Hovland shot 70 on Saturday, leaving him at 1-under and three shots behind Burns. On paper, he possesses the highest pedigree of the four leaders. In reality, the former U.S. Amateur champion, who has come close to a major win multiple times, seems to embrace a certain degree of internal chaos in his game.
“Pretty pleased with how I battled out there,” Hovland commented. “A little bitter about my driver. Just can`t seem to figure it out. It`s like a lingering problem all this year, so it`s kind of pissing me off.”
Sometimes, it seems Hovland is more bothered by a specific swing thought or ball flight than by his overall score. It`s as if his mind processes golf less in terms of numbers and statistics and more in mental images and sensations.
“Sure, we would all like to win, that`s why we practice so hard,” Hovland said. “But there`s also like a deep passion in me that I want to hit the shots. Like I want to stand up on the tee and hit the shots that I`m envisioning. When the ball`s not doing that, it bothers me.”
“I`m well aware that I`ve got a chance tomorrow, and if I shoot a low round of golf tomorrow then anything can happen. But there`s a lot of good players around me. Adam Scott played a brilliant round today, just didn`t really miss a shot. That forces me to play some really good golf tomorrow.”
While Hovland, Spaun, and Burns are all chasing their first major championship victory, the other player they must overcome has played in 96 consecutive majors.
Adam Scott is the only player near the top of the leaderboard whose potential win on Sunday wouldn`t establish his legacy but rather enhance it. Twenty-two years ago, he claimed his first PGA Tour title. Twelve years ago, he won his sole major: a thrilling playoff victory at Augusta National that earned him a coveted green jacket and cemented his place in golf history.
Adam Scott shot a 67 in the third round of the U.S. Open and is in a tie for second.
On Sunday, even more significant history could be made: a win would make Scott, at 44, the only player to have a 12-year gap between major victories and the second oldest winner of a U.S. Open. After carding a second consecutive even-par 70 on Friday, a smiling Scott joked that he was playing “old-man par.” Saturday demanded better, and he delivered with a 3-under 67 that featured vintage ball striking and secured his spot in the final group on Sunday.
“I`d be pretty proud of winning this thing on the weekend. Right now, that`s really what I`m here to do,” Scott said Friday. “I feel like there`s probably not been many signs to anyone else but me the last month or six weeks that my game is looking better. But I definitely feel more confident than I have been this year.”
Scott`s typically calm demeanor can sometimes mask his competitive fire, which is easy to overlook since he hasn`t seriously contended at a major since 2019 and has only one top-10 finish in the past six years. However, listening to him, it`s clear he has never stopped striving for that elusive second major win.
“I really haven`t been in this position for five or six years – or feeling like I`m that player,” Scott admitted. “But that`s what I`m always working towards. If I were to come away with it tomorrow, it would be a hell of a round of golf and an exclamation point on my résumé.”
As Scott walked up the 18th fairway at Oakmont on Saturday, the crowd`s cheers carried a notable enthusiasm. He will undoubtedly be a crowd favorite on Sunday. Scott, true to form, appeared unaffected. He completed his media obligations and quietly left the premises.
Hovland, meanwhile, remained at the course. He headed directly to the driving range, hitting balls into the Pittsburgh night, still seeking the driver swing he envisioned. No one else joined him there. Earlier, Spaun mentioned he planned to go back to his hotel for dinner, perhaps room service ordered by his wife, who is there with their two daughters.
This offered another reminder of the distinct personalities of the four players competing for the coveted U.S. Open title. On Sunday, the grueling test that is the U.S. Open at Oakmont might present additional challenges from other players, but for now, attention is focused on the top four. As they tackle the final 18 holes, they are all pursuing the same goal, knowing that regardless of the final winning score or how many players finish under par, only one can emerge victorious.
