OAKMONT: Sam Burns earned the halfway lead at the US Open on Friday to boost his hopes of a Major breakthrough at Oakmont Country Club, where Rory McIlroy battled late to make the weekend and holder Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut.

Burns went out early from the 10th tee and covered the punishing Oakmont layout with the low round of the week, a sizzling five-under 65 that put him at three-under and one shot clear of overnight leader J.J. Spaun (72).