Approaching Oakmont Country Club from the southwest provides a subtle introduction. Hulton Road, lined with trees and quiet homes, leads towards the property. Even the well-known green clubhouse, when it appears, acts as a buffer between the calm neighborhood and one of golf`s most demanding courses.
Stepping inside reveals the venue`s rich history immediately. Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open ten times, more than any other course in the nation. Exiting the other side of the building, however, exposes you abruptly to the formidable layout.
From several vantage points on the course, including the first, tenth, and eighteenth tees, the entire property unfolds before you. “You get a layout of the whole property,” commented Jon Rahm. “You get to see the entirety of it, as beautiful as it is.”
The sprawling green landscape, covering 191 acres, seems boundless. Standing behind the clubhouse, you can spot 17 of the 18 flags. It almost feels like a challenge: what`s there to worry about? It`s all laid out right here.
This course, a true icon of the sport and synonymous with the U.S. Open, is undoubtedly stunning. Yet, it`s also a tough test, ready to deliver its legendary challenge. This week, 156 players from around the globe arrive, prepared to face the scrutiny of the only course ever designed by Henry Fownes. Each hopes they possess the skill to overcome it.
Jeff Hall, who has participated in four USGA setup teams at Oakmont, stated, “I truly believe that Oakmont is the most stressful place to play a U.S. Open.” He added, “The U.S. Open is supposed to be difficult for the right reasons, it`s supposed to be challenging. It`s about the mental test, the emotional test, the physical test. It`s all of those things. But at Oakmont, it`s all ratcheted up.”
While Scottie Scheffler currently leads the odds and is at the top of the sport, even he, along with players like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, isn`t the main focus this tournament. This week, Oakmont is the star. Every player teeing up has four rounds to prove they are worthy of sharing the stage.
Scottie Scheffler commented, “This is probably the hardest golf course that we`ll play. Maybe ever.”
THE CONCEPT OF the true U.S. Open has changed over time. In the past, deep rough and numerous trees were standard. Today, the USGA is open to selecting host courses like Los Angeles Country Club, where wider fairways and natural contours are the primary features. The focus is no longer on forcing winning scores over par. Instead, the aim is to stay true to the original intentions of the country`s greatest golf course architects. Variety in courses, shots, and playing styles has become paramount.
Golf course architect Gil Hanse, who led the restoration efforts at Oakmont in 2023, observed, “They`re recognizing the original architecture and they`re embracing it. They`re not trying to fit a model.”
Then there is Oakmont. Here, the initial architecture and subsequent changes over decades since its founding in 1903 have all focused on one goal: making the course progressively more difficult. For instance, in its previous nine championships, the winning score has never dropped below 5-under par. Only a tiny fraction, just 2%, of the 1,385 players who have competed in a major championship at Oakmont have finished the tournament under par.
Hanse noted, “One of the things that has been consistent with Oakmont from day one when [architect] Henry Fownes founded it, and one of the things that was very clear in the messaging from the membership, they liked this place tough.” He added, “It`s the only time I`ve ever come out of a meeting with members where we presented the master plan and it was very, very clear to me that the message was: it better not be easier when you`re done.”
Hall mentioned that Oakmont`s club culture means it`s always ready to host a U.S. Open, which somewhat simplifies his team`s task. The main adjustment involves growing the rough to the five-plus inches it will measure this week. The biggest challenge is balancing factors like weather, green speeds, hole locations, and tee boxes to find the delicate balance between difficult and impossible. “You can`t let it go too far,” Hall cautioned. “When you ride Secretariat, you have to hold the reins.”
Beyond difficulty, the work by Hanse and the USGA`s setup introduce significant complexity. Players often compare Augusta National as a place where you learn where the optimal misses are with experience. Oakmont, conversely, with its dense rough, misleading tee shots, and challenging greens rolling up to 15 on the Stimpmeter, doesn`t offer easy places to miss. Instead, it highlights safe zones and makes reaching them as demanding as possible.
Dealing with the course`s length and the thickness of the rough demands both distance and physical strength. You also need finesse to shape shots with the correct trajectory and spin to land on the narrow, treacherous green areas. Regardless of whether your ball is off the fairway or on the green, each shot requires strategic thinking to determine the best way to proceed.
Justin Thomas commented on the course`s inherent challenge. “You go to a place like this, [the USGA] don`t need to set it up any differently or trick it up or do anything for it to challenge both the physical and mental part of our game,” he said. “Oakmont is challenging in both of those aspects. If you just get lazy, like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt, you can kind of look stupid pretty fast.”
Patience is crucial when faced with awkward lies in the rough or unfortunate bounces. Discipline is essential, especially when confronting tempting pin locations even from the fairway center. A mistake must be rectified and mentally put aside quickly, as compounding errors can ruin your round or even end your tournament.
Collin Morikawa noted, “You know you`re going to get penalized even on good shots, and that`s just part of this golf course.” He emphasized the rough: “I don`t think people understand how thick the rough is. This is just thick. Clubs will turn over.”
Indeed, Oakmont is penalizing; its bunkers are strategically placed and severely punishing. Yes, as McIlroy described his practice round 81 with difficult pins, Oakmont can feel “impossible.” But then, how does one explain the achievements of players like Dustin Johnson, Ángel Cabrera, Johnny Miller, and Jack Nicklaus here?
This course doesn`t just favor outstanding play; it explicitly demands it.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau stated, “I think everybody knows this is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now.” He contrasted it with other challenging courses: “It`s not like every single hole is Winged Foot out here. You can`t just bomb it on every single hole and blast over bunkers and have a wedge run up to the front of the green. I think this golf course you have to be just a fraction more strategic, especially with the rough is so long.”
Some players might find the greens excessively difficult due to their speed or slope. Michael Kim shared his thoughts on Tuesday, referring to Oakmont`s varied greens as “Mickey Mouse” while also acknowledging that to truly test today`s top players, “you need a lot of what Oakmont has.”
Justin Thomas, who finished T32 at 8-over in 2016, commented, “I understand this place is hard. I don`t need to read articles, or I don`t need to hear horror stories. I`ve played it. I know it`s difficult.”
THE CONTEXT SURROUNDING the question of whether this course is excessively difficult or even unfair under U.S. Open conditions is significant. With regular PGA Tour events and even some major championships increasingly featuring lower winning scores due to improved equipment and setups favoring a uniform, distance-focused style of golf, Oakmont`s return feels like a refreshing change for the sport. Even players bracing for the challenge recognize this. Xander Schauffele remarked, “We`re all playing the same course, and it`s going to be hard. You may think something`s unfair, but it doesn`t really matter at the end of the day. Whoever can sort of deal with it the best is going to play well. That`s the attitude I`ve had, look at it as a fun challenge versus feeling like you`re living in a nightmare.”
Throughout the week, videos have circulated showing players struggling to hit balls out of the thick rough, or demonstrating how difficult it is to hold the greens or make putts when above the hole. This has naturally built a narrative suggesting that even the world`s best players might appear less than perfect during the 72 holes this week.
Hall explained the USGA`s role: “All we`re trying to do is build the theater. We`re trying to make sure that it`s a complete effort. When you put your hands on that trophy Sunday night, you`ve played complete golf from tee to green for 72 holes.”
While some player frustration might be simmering, potentially surfacing as the course becomes drier, firmer, and even tougher over the first two rounds, most seem ready to embrace the challenge. Some even view any peer dissent as a potential edge. Thomas stated, “Being perfectly honest and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out.” He sees this mental aspect as part of preparation: “It`s a part of the preparation, like trying to go hit wedges or trying to get the speed of the greens or anything. It`s getting a game plan for how you`re going to approach the course mentally and strategically.”
Oakmont`s reputation allows it to demand more severe consequences than most courses. Hanse noted that working on Oakmont, where difficulty is inherent to the original design, was liberating. This is why instances like groundskeepers using leaf-blowers in practice rounds to intentionally fluff up the thick rough, making it harder, can be framed as the course and the USGA embracing the venue`s character, rather than simply making it difficult for difficulty`s sake. “It`s a very fine line between what`s challenging, what`s good architecture, what`s too much,” Hanse remarked. “And I think here you`ve got a situation where it`s never too much. I mean, it`s almost like their mantra was, `Okay, let`s just keep pushing it to a certain limit.`”
The exact threshold of difficulty, and how close the USGA intends to push it, remains to be seen. Weather will also play a role, with rain forecasted for the weekend. Hanse believes the winning score will be over par if the rain subsides. While some players may still experience frustration or even scoff at the challenge, some are self-aware enough to recognize that the resulting struggle is also great entertainment, even at their own expense. Schauffele commented, “I don`t think people turn the TV on to watch some of the guys just hit like a 200-yard shot on the green, you know what I mean? I think they turn on the U.S. Open to see a guy shoot 8-over and suffer. That`s part of the enjoyment of the U.S. Open for viewers.”
After a nine-year absence from the spotlight, all attention is once again on Oakmont. Let the challenge commence.
Jasper Hawthorne