When Sam Burns stood over his tee shot on the 15th hole in the final round of the U.S. Open, he was in a tie for the lead. When he walked off the green, he was two shots back and essentially out of contention. What transpired in between is a questionable ruling that very much led to the double bogey Burns carded on the hole.

Sam Burns saw his U.S. Open hopes drown with one controversial decision. Burns was forced to hit out of a soggy lie on the fairway of the 15th hole of Sunday’s final round at Oakmont after asking two rules officials to take a drop.

Sam Burns entered the final round of the 2025 U.S. Open in the lead, and it appeared he might be the only player to survive Oakmont. That was not the case.