Approaching Oakmont Country Club from the southwest, the golf course appears unexpectedly. Hulton Road, lined with trees and pleasant houses, guides visitors to the grounds. Even the distinctive green clubhouse, when it becomes visible, serves as a divide between the peaceful surroundings and the course, known as one of golf`s most daunting challenges.
Inside the clubhouse, the club`s rich history is evident everywhere. It has hosted the U.S. Open ten times, more than any other course in the nation. Stepping out the back reveals the formidable course layout, which is immediately striking.
“From tees like the first, tenth, eighteenth, or ninth, you can see the entire property`s layout,” Jon Rahm commented. “You get a full view of the course, and it`s truly beautiful.”
The immense stretch of green, covering 191 acres, seems to go on forever. From behind the clubhouse, observers can spot 17 of the 18 hole flags. This panoramic view might almost seem deceptively reassuring, as if suggesting: What could be challenging? Everything is right there in plain sight.
This venue, often called one of golf`s grandest stages and closely associated with the U.S. Open, is undeniably picturesque. Yet, it`s also known for its severe difficulty. This week, 156 competitors from around the globe are prepared to face the challenge of this unique course, designed solely by Henry Fownes. Each player aims to be the one who can ultimately master it.
Jeff Hall, who has been involved with four USGA setup teams at Oakmont, shared with ESPN, “I genuinely feel Oakmont is the most demanding venue for a U.S. Open. The U.S. Open`s difficulty is intended to be challenging for valid reasons, testing players mentally, emotionally, and physically. Oakmont amplifies all these aspects.”
While Scottie Scheffler is currently golf`s top player and a favorite, even he, alongside stars like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, isn`t the primary focus of this event. This week, Oakmont itself is the central figure. The 156 players competing must use their four rounds to demonstrate they can contend on this stage.
Scheffler stated, “This is likely the toughest golf course we`ll encounter. Perhaps ever.”
THE CONCEPT OF the definitive U.S. Open has changed over time. Previously, thick rough and extensive tree cover were standard annually. Today, the USGA considers venues like Los Angeles Country Club, known for broader fairways and undulating terrain. The emphasis has shifted away from deliberately forcing winning scores above par. The focus is now on respecting the original design principles of America`s premier golf courses and their creators. Diversity in courses, shot requirements, and playing styles is now highly valued.
This is where Oakmont comes in. Since its establishment in 1903, both its original design and subsequent modifications over many decades have consistently aimed at increasing the course`s difficulty. For example, across its previous nine U.S. Opens, the winning score has never been better than 5-under par. Only 2% of the 1,385 golfers who have competed in a major championship at Oakmont have managed to finish with a score under par.
Hanse noted, “Something consistent about Oakmont since its creation by Henry Fownes is that the membership has always wanted it to be a challenging course. It`s the only instance I recall presenting a master plan to members where the explicit instruction I received was: `It absolutely must not be any easier after you finish.`”
Hall explained that Oakmont`s club culture enables it to host a U.S. Open with little preparation and somewhat simplifies his team`s task. The primary adjustment involves letting the rough grow to over five inches for the week. The main difficulty lies in balancing weather conditions, green speeds, hole placements, and tee positions to achieve a setup that is severely challenging but not impossible.
Hall commented, “You mustn`t push it too far. It`s like riding Secretariat; you need to keep control of the reins.”
Difficulty isn`t the only aspect resulting from Hanse`s renovations and the USGA`s setup; Oakmont also presents considerable complexity. Golfers frequently mention that Augusta National teaches them where to miss shots as they gain experience there. In contrast, Oakmont, with its dense rough, misleading tee shots, and tricky greens rolling up to 15 on the Stimpmeter, doesn`t offer clear places to miss. Instead, it indicates the less perilous areas and makes reaching them as challenging as possible.
Power and distance are necessary to handle the course`s length and the thick rough. However, players also need skill and touch to shape shots with the correct trajectory and spin to land on the precise, narrow sections of the challenging greens. Furthermore, regardless of whether a shot lands in the rough or on the green, players must think strategically about the optimal way to play their subsequent shot.
Justin Thomas commented, “At a course like this, the USGA doesn`t have to adjust the setup or add difficulty; it naturally tests both the physical and mental aspects of our game. Oakmont is demanding in both ways. If you become careless, even on a drive, wedge shot, chip, or putt, you can quickly find yourself in trouble.”
Patience is vital when dealing with difficult lies in the rough or unfortunate bounces. Self-control is essential, especially when tempted by seemingly accessible pin positions even from the center of the fairway. Errors must be overcome and put out of mind immediately. Allowing mistakes to accumulate will ruin your round or even your entire tournament.
Collin Morikawa stated, “You know you`ll be penalized sometimes even for good shots; that`s just how this course is. I don`t think people realize how dense the rough is. It`s simply very thick. Your clubface will twist upon impact.”
Indeed, Oakmont is unforgiving; its bunkers are not merely strategically placed but truly punishing. While it can feel, as McIlroy described his score of 81 during a practice round with difficult pin placements, “impossible,” how then do you account for the achievements of golfers like Dustin Johnson, Ángel Cabrera, Johnny Miller, and Jack Nicklaus?
This course doesn`t just reward great play; it necessitates it.
Defending champion DeChambeau commented, “I believe everyone acknowledges this is likely the most difficult golf course globally right now. It`s not like Winged Foot where you can aggressively attack every hole, driving over bunkers and hitting wedges that roll to the front of the green. I think at this course, you need to be slightly more strategic, particularly because the rough is so deep.”
Some players might find the greens excessive, whether due to their speed or contours. Michael Kim shared his views on the course on Tuesday, calling Oakmont`s varied greens “Mickey Mouse” (a term often used to mean overly tricky or artificial), yet also stating that to challenge today`s top players, “you require many of the features Oakmont possesses.”
Thomas, who finished tied for 32nd at 8-over par in 2016, said, “I know this place is tough. I don`t need to read articles or hear cautionary tales. I`ve played it myself. I understand its difficulty.”
CONTEXT IS SIGNIFICANT when considering if this course is overly difficult or unfair during a U.S. Open. While standard PGA Tour events and even some major championships increasingly see lower winning scores, thanks to advanced equipment and course setups that often prioritize distance, Oakmont`s re-emergence feels refreshing. Even golfers aware of the challenges ahead over the next four days recognize this.
Xander Schauffele remarked, “We`re all competing on the same course, and it will be tough. You might feel something is unfair, but ultimately, that doesn`t matter. The player who handles it best will succeed. My approach has been to view it as an exciting test rather than feeling trapped in a bad dream.”
Throughout the week, videos have showcased players demonstrating the difficulty of recovering from the rough, hitting greens effectively, or making putts from above the hole. This coverage has predictably fostered the idea that even the world`s elite golfers might struggle during the 72 holes this week.
Hall stated, “Our aim is simply to create the stage. We want to ensure that winning here demands a comprehensive performance. To lift the trophy on Sunday evening, a player must demonstrate mastery across all aspects of the game for 72 holes, from tee shots to putting.”
Any brewing frustration among players regarding the course might become more apparent during the initial two rounds as conditions become drier, firmer, and tougher. However, most appear ready to face the challenge. Some even view any complaints from competitors as potentially beneficial to themselves.
Thomas candidly admitted, “To be completely honest and quite selfish, I hope it intimidates many players. It`s part of preparing, just like practicing wedges or gauging green speed. It involves developing a mental and strategic plan for how you`ll tackle the course.”
Oakmont`s demanding reputation allows it to present greater challenges than many other courses. (Hanse mentioned that restoring Oakmont, where difficulty was inherent in the original design, was liberating). This explains why scenes during practice rounds, showing groundskeepers using leaf blowers to make the thick rough stand up and become even harder, can be seen as both the course and the USGA embracing the venue`s unique character, rather than simply increasing difficulty arbitrarily.
Hanse remarked, “There`s a delicate balance between what`s challenging, what constitutes good architecture, and what`s excessive. I believe at Oakmont, the situation is that it`s never truly too much. It`s almost as if their guiding principle has been, `Let`s continually push it to a certain threshold.`”
The exact boundary of difficulty, and how near the USGA intends to approach it, is uncertain. Weather will also influence play, with rain expected over the weekend; Hanse predicted the winning score would be over par if the rain stops. Although some golfers might become frustrated and even dismissive of the task, others understand that demanding conditions also create compelling viewing, even if their own performance suffers.
Schauffele commented, “I don`t believe people tune in to watch players simply hit routine shots from 200 yards onto the green, if you know what I mean? I think viewers watch the U.S. Open to see a player shoot 8-over and struggle. That element of difficulty is part of the spectators` enjoyment.”
With nine years passed since its last major appearance, Oakmont is once again the center of attention.
Let the challenge commence.
