Sam Burns is playing free at Oakmont’s treacherous course. It’s put him atop the US Open leaderboard going into the weekend

Sam Burns came into Friday knowing that he could play at Oakmont. He also knew what the course could do to him, having finished with three bogeys and one double bogey during Thursday’s opening round.

Sam Burns came into Friday knowing that he could play at Oakmont. He also knew what the course could do to him, having finished with three bogeys and one double bogey during Thursday’s opening round. Burns chose not to dwell on how his round ended and instead focused on the five birdies that came earlier. “I played really well yesterday other than the finishing holes,” he said to reporters after his round Friday. “So, I think today was just kind of getting mentally ready to come out and try to put a good round together. I feel like I’ve been playing well coming off last week and into this week and my round yesterday. Really just trying to get yourself in position out here and give yourself as many looks as you can.” What came on Friday might be the round of his life. On this most difficult of courses – only three players are under par after 36 holes – Burns shot a 5-under 65 that left him in sole control of the US Open halfway through the tournament. It’s the first time he’s had at least a share of the lead at this point in a major championship and was just two shots shy of the course record 63, set by Johnny Miller in the 1973 edition of this tournament. Burns is a five-time winner on the PGA Tour but has only finished in the top 10 at a major once – at last year’s US Open at Pinehurst. He’s known as one of the best putters on the tour but is coming off a week where his putter failed him at a critical moment.