OAKMONT, Pa. — The closest Sam Burns has come to a major championship is sharing a house with a close friend who already has three of them. He has been inspired by Scottie Scheffler the last few years . The next step is to join him as a major champion.

Sam Burns avoided the late meltdown that cost him in the first round of the U.S. Open. He had a 65 and has a one-shot lead at Oakmont.

Burns has made 11 birdies through two rounds, joining Viktor Hovland for most sup-par holes through 36 holes in the three U.S. Opens at Oakmont since it switched to a par 70 in 2007. Burns needed them to make up for Thursday's rough ending,