It just showed a clever bit of awareness and foresight. In the heat of the pressure and the pouring rain, Burns stopped himself from making a potentially very costly error. It was a small moment, but the kind of decision that wins U.S. Opens.

Sam Burns entered the final round of the 2025 U.S. Open in the lead, and it appeared he might be the only player to survive Oakmont. That was not the case.

Burns was twice denied relief from perceived temporary water on the 15th hole Sunday at Oakmont before double-bogeying the hole and losing the U.S. Open by five shots.

Like any savvy patient who gets a bad diagnosis, Sam Burns wanted a second opinion. When his drive on Oakmont’s par-4 15th hole stayed on the fairway next to the first cut, he seemed to catch a good break. But when Burns arrived at the ball, it looked and felt to him that it was sitting in standing water from the day’s earlier heavy rain storm.

Despite appealing to two USGA rules officials, Sam Burns was denied water relief on the 15th hole during the championship round of the U.S. Open on Sunday. Burns, who entered the day in sole possession of the lead and finished tied for seventh at 4 over,

Sam Burns' Message on Donald Trump Resurfaces During US Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Sam Burns has had a stellar week at the U.S. Open, but the PGA Tour golfer is used to playing with high-profile partners. With Burns in contention to win the U.S. Open, fans pointed to an old Instagram post Burns made last fall.

Sam Burns revealed the role that his friend, Scottie Scheffler, has played in his career, including his status as the 54-hole leader of the 2025 U.S. Open.

U.S. Open heads heads for Round 4 on Sunday morning at Oakmont Country Club, and American Sam Burns remains atop the leaderboard after another solid round on Saturday as he looks for his first career major.