Sam Burns' Two Missed Putts Cost Him The U.S. Open, But He Just Erased Oakmont For Good.

It happened again, man, another agonizing near-miss at the U.S. Open. But this wasn't the gut-punch collapse of last year. Sam Burns, who struggled big time at Oakmont in 2025, just proved everyone wrong at Shinnecock Hills this past Sunday. Starting seven shots back, he made a heroic charge, coming up one stroke short of Wyndham Clark for the title. What we saw was pure redemption, even in defeat.

The Shinnecock Hills Grind: One Shot Short

Dude, you gotta feel for Burns. He poured his heart out on that course. After a clutch birdie on the 16th, he was just one stroke behind Wyndham Clark, the leader. Then came the 17th and 18th holes. He had two incredible looks for birdie, shots that would’ve tied Clark at 4 under and cranked up the heat. But golf is cruel, right? He put a weak effort on No. 17, then the heartbreaker: a painful miss on the right lip on No. 18. The dude collapsed to his knees, *knowing* he hadn't quite done enough. Burns himself admitted, "Hit a really good shot in there on 17, and just a terrible read and not a very good putt." On 18? "I really thought I made that putt. I hit it exactly how I wanted with the speed I wanted and just didn't go in." He finished at 3 under, just one short of Clark's 4 under. Clark went wire-to-wire, grabbing his second U.S. Open title. Burns clawed his way back from seven shots down at the start, stating his goal was "to try to get to 4 or 5 [under]." He almost pulled it off.

Erasing Oakmon

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t's Ghost For Good This Shinnecock performance wasn't just a good showing, it was an exorcism of the demons from 2025. Remember Oakmont? I still cringe thinking about it. Burns was the 54-hole leader in the U.S. Open that year, sitting pretty. Then the final round hit, and he melted under pressure. He went 8 over, posting the fourth-worst round of the 66 golfers who played that Sunday, finishing T7. The image of him desperately trying for relief from standing water on the 15th, only to make his second double bogey of the day and post a 78, that's what stuck. For years, people questioned if Burns, despite five wins from 2021-2023, had that "extra gear" for majors. Oakmont was Exhibit A for all the doubters. But Sunday at Shinnecock? A different story. "I would say, last year at Oakmont, I felt more [like] I lost the golf tournament. I certainly don't feel that way today," Burns stated. "I think I did my best, and I did everything I could to have a chance to win today." He stared down his past, faced a seven-shot deficit, and nearly pulled off a miracle. The guy showed he belongs. So, yeah, it stings to be one shot short of a U.S. Open title. But this wasn't a collapse. This was a statement. Sam Burns told the golf world, and himself, he’s got that championship grit. He’s always been a quality player, but now he’s showing the mettle for golf's biggest stage. We just watched a player reclaim his narrative. What’s next for Burns isn't about the next tee time, it’s about watching him carry this fire forward. The future is looking bright for this guy.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.