OAKMONT, Pa. — When the U.S. Open returns to Oakmont Country Club, two numbers always dominate conversations. This is a place where the club`s identity revolves around a course designed to be not just difficult, but seemingly impossible. The winning score and the number of players finishing under par are metrics celebrated like achievements.
In 2016, ten players were under par entering the final round, but only four remained in red figures by the end. In 2007, only two players finished any single round under par, both doing so in the first round. Ultimately, Ángel Cabrera won the trophy with a score of 5-over par.
Oakmont`s capacity to derail golfers left and right at any moment makes separating from the field a significant challenge. However, on Saturday, as the sun dipped and cast a warm glow on the course, four players managed to do just that. Fittingly, they were the four who had navigated Oakmont`s formidable test for 54 holes and found themselves under par.
“If I`ve said it once, I`ve said it a hundred times, but this golf course is difficult,” remarked Sam Burns, who holds the 54-hole lead at 4-under. “It takes a lot of patience.”
This leaderboard heading into Sunday might not be what many golf fans or television networks anticipated. The last six major champions, for instance, have all been among the world`s top 10 players. Yet, the quartet comprising Burns, Adam Scott, J.J. Spaun, and Viktor Hovland leading the way sets the stage for a compelling and diverse final round.
Consider Burns, a 28-year-old professional since 2017. He boasts five PGA Tour victories but has never seriously contended in his 19 previous major starts. His best finish was a late surge to a top 10 at last year`s U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
Most casual fans likely know Burns for his excellent putting and his close friendship with Scottie Scheffler. He hasn`t typically been in a position at majors for broad opinions to even form about his game. And yet, Burns has unlocked something special this week.
As expected, his putter has been superb – he`s tied for the fewest putts per round and has recorded an impressive 12 birdies. But his iron and wedge play has been even more outstanding, leading the entire field in strokes gained: approach. Now, he stands on the brink of an achievement that would be, to say the least, unexpected.
“It would be incredible,” Burns stated about 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 Burns victory would be improbable, J.J. Spaun, who played alongside him Saturday, might represent an even bigger shock. Spaun is a 34-year-old journeyman with a single PGA Tour win three years ago at the Valero Texas Open. Earlier this year, he faced Rory McIlroy in a playoff at the Players Championship and seemed to buckle under the pressure as McIlroy cruised to victory.
Some might have expected that to be Spaun`s last significant moment on a major stage. However, the Los Angeles native has continued to play the best golf of his career and is now 3-under par at Oakmont after three rounds, just one shot behind Burns. Only five players on Tour have been better ball strikers this year. This week, while his approach play is good (21st in the field), his putter has been exceptional, gaining him nearly three strokes on the field.
“I`m not putting too much pressure [on myself],” Spaun commented, later adding, “This is the best I`ve played in my career, for sure.”
In contrast to Spaun and Burns, this is decidedly not Viktor Hovland`s career best. Not by a long shot.
Just two years ago, Hovland finished in the top 20 at every major, including a T-2 at the PGA Championship. He also won the BMW Championship that year with a course-record 61. Yet, 2024 has seen him miss four cuts, change coaches twice, and speak openly about his relentless pursuit of the perfect swing. Despite his struggles, Hovland shot 70 on Saturday, putting him at 1-under and three shots behind Burns. On paper, he possesses the highest pedigree among the four. In reality, the former U.S. Amateur champion, who has been close to major success multiple times, has made a certain level of internal struggle part of his method.
“Pretty pleased with how I battled out there,” Hovland said. “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 frustrated by a flawed swing or ball flight than by his actual score. His mind appears to focus more on mental images and sensations than on numbers or statistics.
“Sure, we would all like to win, that`s why we practice so hard,” Hovland explained. “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 chasing their first major title, the player they must overcome has played in 96 consecutive majors.
Adam Scott is the only one near the top of the leaderboard whose victory wouldn`t establish a legacy, but rather enhance an already impressive one. He won his first PGA Tour event 22 years ago and secured his sole major, a thrilling playoff victory at Augusta National, 12 years ago, earning him a coveted green jacket and a place in history.
On Sunday, Scott, at 44, could make even more history. A win would potentially make him the only player with a 12-year gap between major victories and the second oldest U.S. Open winner.
After shooting a second consecutive round of even-par 70 Friday, a smiling Scott joked he was playing “old-man par.” Saturday demanded more, and he delivered with a superb 3-under 67, featuring flashes of his classic ball striking, earning him a spot in the final group.
“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 characteristic composure can sometimes mask his competitive fire, which is easy to forget since he hasn`t truly contended in a major since 2019 and has only one top-10 finish in the past six years. However, he speaks of never giving up on the quest for a second major title.
“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 resume.”
As Scott walked up Oakmont`s 18th fairway Saturday, the crowd`s fervent cheers were noticeable, suggesting he might be the gallery favorite Sunday. Scott, as always, appeared unaffected, handled a few media interviews, and quietly exited the premises.
Hovland, meanwhile, stayed behind. He headed straight to the driving range, hitting balls into the Pittsburgh night with his driver, still searching for the swing he envisioned. He was alone. Earlier, Spaun mentioned he would go home for dinner, perhaps room service ordered by his wife, who is at the hotel with their two daughters.
These small scenes serve as reminders of how different these four players vying for the coveted U.S. Open title truly are. On Sunday, Oakmont`s famed test of attrition may present additional challenges, and while other players could potentially make a charge, all eyes remain fixed on the leading quartet. As they navigate the final 18 holes, they share the same goal, knowing full well that regardless of the final score or the number of players under par, only one will emerge victorious.
Jasper Hawthorne