Scottie Scheffler insisted he is by no means out of contention at the 2025 U.S. Open despite falling seven shots off the pace at Oakmont.
Having carded a three-over 73 to start the tournament on Thursday, the world number one and PGA champion endured another difficult round on Friday, his 71 leaving him four-over-par, well adrift of leader Sam Burns, whose superb 65 saw him improve to three-under.
But with Burns one of just three players under par for the tournament, Scheffler believes the stern test provided by Oakmont means he is still firmly in the mix to win a fourth major title and move one step away from the Grand Slam.
Ay time you’re not hitting it the way or playing up to my expectations I think it’s frustrating,” Scheffler said of his second round, which comprised of four birdies and five bogeys.
“Mentally this was as tough as I’ve battled for the whole day. There was a lot of stuff going on out there that was not going in my favor necessarily, and I felt like [caddie] Teddy [Scott] and I did a great job of battling, especially coming down the stretch.
“I felt like I got some momentum back with a birdie on 2, quickly lost it with a bogey on 3, but then bounced back, birdied 4, great up-and-down on 5, great up-and-down on 6, birdied 7, good par on 8. I made the mistake there on 9, but that’s just what happens when you don’t hit the fairway.
“Overall definitely not out of the tournament. Today was I think with the way I was hitting it was easily a day I could have been going home and battled pretty hard to stay in there.
“I’m four-over. We’ll see what the lead is after today, but around this golf course I don’t think by any means I’m out of the tournament.”
J.J. Spaun is one shot adrift of Burns, with Viktor Holland a stroke further back.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy narrowly made the seven-over-par cut, but Bryson DeChambeau’s defense of the title is over after he finished 10-over for the opening 36 holes.
Justin Thomas will miss the weekend after finishing five shots outside the cut line, while 2023 champion Wyndham Clark ended Friday eight-over-par, that score also ending Ludvig Aberg’s tournament after two rounds.
Dustin Johnson, the previous winner at Oakmont in 2016, missed the cut at 10-over. Justin Rose, the 2013 champion at Merion, endured two nightmare rounds to finish 14-over, with Shane Lowry faring even worse at 17-over. Lowry will hope for better when The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush, the scene of his 2019 triumph, next month.
