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.

When Sam Burns stood over his tee shot on the 15th hole in the final round of the U.S. Open, he was in a tie for the lead. When he walked off the green, he was two shots back and essentially out of contention. What transpired in between is a questionable ruling that very much led to the double bogey Burns carded on the hole.

The 54-hole leader was in the hunt until two different officials denied him relief from a wet area in the fairway, leading to a double bogey.

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 Can't Hold Onto Final Round Lead at U.S. Open originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Sam Burns, the leader after the third round of the U.S. Open, couldn't hold on and win his first major.

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.

Moving day at Oakmont Country Club saw Sam Burns take a one stroke lead at the U.S. Open. See how Round 3 went with updates and scores.

Quite simply, pick a move you want to make in your swing, then start doing it in your pre-shot routine. Congratulations, now you've got a New School Waggle, just like a 2025 U.S. Open contender.