Burns leads as Scheffler and McIlroy make US Open cut

Sam Burns hit a sensational five-under 65 to set the clubhouse target as Scottie Scheffler battled to make the cut during the second round of the US Open.

Only four of 78 players in the early wave posted under-par scores on another gruelling day at Oakmont with Burns improving to three under overall.

The top 60 and ties make it through to the weekend, and world number one Scheffler is set to be comfortably inside the cut mark, which is projected to be seven over with 78 players to complete their rounds.

Scheffler, who scrapped to a 71, mixing four birdies with five bogeys to finish on four over, said: "With the way I was hitting it, it was easily a day I could have been going home and I battled pretty hard to stay in there.

"Around this golf course I don't think by any means I'm out of the tournament."

His fellow American Burns enjoyed a better day in Pennsylvania, posting the lowest score of the week.

Burns, who finished runner-up at last week's Canadian Open, had six birdies in his round and finished with a 22-foot par putt to leave himself one behind round one leader JJ Spaun, who was just heading out among the later starters.

Norway's Viktor Hovland was scintillating through his opening eight holes, including a brilliant chip-in eagle at the 17th (his eighth) to also close within one of Spaun.

However, a rollercoaster back nine that featured two birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey saw him post a 68 that leaves him at one under.

Masters winner Rory McIlroy is among those heading out with the later starters. The Northern Irishman begins at four over par, with the course expected to toughen as the round progresses.

Statement wins at the US PGA Championship, Memorial and CJ Byron Nelson over the past five weeks had ensconced Scheffler as a clear favourite to add the US Open to his growing collection of major titles.

But this tournament cares little for reputation – and the world's top ranked player has not won it since Tiger Woods in 2008.

Round two started well, Scheffler, who started at three over, downing a 20-foot birdie putt at his first (the 10th). After that, it unravelled, with three bogeys in five holes.

However, he found a bounceback birdie at the second (his 11th) but smashed his club on the ground in frustration after driving his ball in the huge 'Church Pews' bunker down the third.

So often admired for his relaxed composure, it was a further sign all was not right with the Olympic champion's game.

However, he did find birdies at the fourth (his 13th) and sixth in order to shoot one over par for his round and anyone who makes the weekend has a chance.

Scheffler's toils were put into perspective by a charging Burns who made a mockery of Oakmont's grisly challenge.

Sensational from tee to green, he actually missed decent opportunities down the stretch to add to his 11 birdies over the first two rounds before that brilliant par save at the final hole.

If his regains his usually reliable putting stroke - he is first on the PGA Tour this season for strokes gained on the greens - he will be well placed to fight for his maiden major title.

Another in that bracket is Hovland who, playing alongside Scheffler, lit up the front nine with some excellent iron play.

Ranked first for strokes gained around the green in round two, the 2023 Tour Championship winner closed in on Spaun with a majestic 55-foot chipped eagle from the rough on the 17th (his eighth).

A slightly erratic back nine could have derailed him but at three shots back, and half the field still to play, Hovland will be well-placed going into the weekend.

Two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka has shown glimpses of his impressive major-winning credentials but was scrappy in a round of 74 to drop to two over par.

Two shots further behind, the 2021 champion Jon Rahm saw his challenge falter, having impressed on day one.

Starting the round three off the lead, he followed three bogeys on his first nine with a penal double bogey at the 12th to drop to four over par, with his sole birdie arriving at the fourth.

To compound his frustration, he saw a series of birdie chances slide by during his closing holes before a bogey at the last left him eight shots off Spaun.

"I'm too mad to put it into perspective," he said afterwards.

Meanwhile, France's Victor Perez had a hole-in-one at the par-three sixth in a level-par 70 that kept him at one over.