OAKMONT, Pa. — As Phil Mickelson, aka Lefty, aka Phil the Thrill, aka FIGJAM, aka one of the two most famous golfers of the 21st century, teed off Thursday in what might be his final U.S. Open, there were more security guards than journalists following him. And there were two security guards.

Sam Burns hits a sensational five-under 65 to lead the US Open as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy make the cut.

Sam Burns avoided the late meltdown that cost him in the first round of the U.S. Open OAKMONT, Pa. — The pounding rain arrived far too late to douse so many of the meltdowns across Oakmont on Friday in a U.

Scheffler battled his way to a 1-over 71 at the U.S. Open on Friday, a slight improvement on his first-round 73 but still not the type of performance that’s made him the game’s dominant player the past three years. He has 36 more holes to try to unleash the form that produced wins in three of his last four tournaments.

The U.S. Open long has been regarded the toughest test in golf, and this year it returns to what is arguably the toughest course in America. Oakmont Country Club outside Pittsburgh is the talk of the 125th U.