OAKMONT, Pa. — Approaching Oakmont Country Club from the southwest, the course appears almost unexpectedly. The tree-lined Hulton Road leading to the grounds is bordered by charming houses. Even when the distinctive green clubhouse comes into view, it acts as a visual separation between the tranquil neighborhood and one of golf’s most formidable challenges.
Step inside the clubhouse, and the venue`s rich history is palpable everywhere you look. It has hosted the U.S. Open 10 times, more than any other course in the nation. Exit the other side of the building, and the course`s imposing presence hits you forcefully.
Jon Rahm noted, “When you stand on the first tee, 10th tee, 18, 9, you get a layout of the whole property. You get to see the entirety of it, as beautiful as it is.”
The vast expanse of green, all 191 acres, seems boundless before you. From behind the clubhouse, you can spot 17 of the 18 flags. It almost feels like a dare: What’s the fuss? It’s all laid out right before you.
Indeed, one of golf`s grandest venues – a course deeply associated with the U.S. Open – is stunningly beautiful. Yet, it’s also a tough test, ready to deliver its renowned difficulty. This week, 156 players from around the globe have arrived, prepared to face the scrutiny of the only course designed by Henry Fownes. Each player hopes to be the one capable of conquering it.
“I truly believe that Oakmont is the most stressful place to play a U.S. Open,” Jeff Hall, part of four USGA setup teams at Oakmont, shared. “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.”
Scottie Scheffler might lead the odds and the sport currently, but even he, along with players like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, won`t be the primary focus of this tournament. This week, Oakmont is the main attraction. Everyone teeing it up will have four rounds to demonstrate they deserve a share of the spotlight.
“This is probably the hardest golf course that we’ll play,” Scheffler stated. “Maybe ever.”
THE CONCEPT OF the true U.S. Open has evolved over the years. Previously, dense rough and large trees were an annual expectation. Today, the USGA is open to selecting host sites like Los Angeles Country Club, where wider fairways and ground contours define the course. The goal is no longer solely forcing winning scores over par; instead, it`s about respecting the original design intentions of the country`s greatest golf courses and their architects. Variety – in courses, shots, and playing styles – has become paramount.
Golf course architect Gil Hanse, who oversaw Oakmont`s restoration in 2023, commented, “They’re recognizing the original architecture and they’re embracing it. They’re not trying to fit a model.”
Enter Oakmont, where the initial architecture and subsequent modifications over decades since its founding in 1903 have consistently focused on one objective: making the course increasingly difficult. Consider this: in its prior nine championships, the lowest winning score was never better than 5-under par. Only a mere 2% of the 1,385 players who have competed in a major championship at Oakmont have finished the tournament under par.
“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,” Hanse remarked. “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 mentions that Oakmont`s club culture makes it ready to host a U.S. Open with little notice and somewhat simplifies his team`s role. The primary adjustment is letting the rough grow to the five-plus inches expected this week; the biggest challenge involves balancing factors like weather, green speeds, hole placements, and tee locations to find that critical line between difficult and impossible.
“You can’t let it go too far,” Hall advised. “When you ride Secretariat, you have to hold the reins.”
Between Hanse`s work and the USGA`s setup, difficulty is not the only factor; Oakmont also boasts significant complexity. Players often note that Augusta National is a place where they learn where to strategically miss shots with more experience. Oakmont, in contrast, with its thick rough, tricky tee shots, and frustrating green complexes that can reach speeds up to 15 on the Stimpmeter, doesn`t so much offer places to miss as it highlights safe zones and makes the journey to them as arduous as possible.
Length and power are necessary to handle its yardage and the density of the aforementioned rough. You also need finesse to shape shots with the precise trajectory and spin to hold the correct sections of its challenging greens. And regardless of where your ball lands after any given shot – off the fairway or on the green – you need the strategic thinking to figure out the optimal way to play your next stroke.
“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,” Justin Thomas 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 unlucky bounces. Discipline is essential when tempted by challenging pin placements, even from the middle of the fairway. A mistake must be corrected and moved past as quickly as possible. Repeating errors will quickly ruin your round or even your entire tournament.
“You know you’re going to get penalized even on good shots, and that’s just part of this golf course,” Collin Morikawa observed. “I don’t think people understand how thick the rough is. This is just thick. Clubs will turn over.”
Yes, Oakmont is penalizing – its bunkers are not just strategically placed but truly punishing. Yes, Oakmont can feel, as McIlroy described his 81 during a recent practice round with tough pins, “impossible.” But then, how do you account for what players like Dustin Johnson, Ángel Cabrera, Johnny Miller, and Jack Nicklaus have achieved here?
This is a course that doesn`t merely favor greatness; it demands it.
Defending champion DeChambeau stated, “I think everybody knows this is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now. 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 might find the greens, due to speed or slope, excessive. Michael Kim posted his thoughts, referring to Oakmont’s greens as “Mickey Mouse” while also acknowledging that to challenge today`s best, “you need a lot of what Oakmont has.”
“I understand this place is hard,” said Thomas, who finished 8-over and tied for 32nd in 2016. “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.”
CONTEXT IS KEY regarding whether this course is excessively difficult or even unfair under U.S. Open conditions. As regular PGA Tour events and even some major championships increasingly feature lower winning scores, aided by better equipment and setups that favor a uniform style of golf prioritizing distance, Oakmont’s re-emergence feels like a welcome change. Even players who know the challenge ahead recognize this.
“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,” Xander Schauffele noted. “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 shown players demonstrating the difficulty of hitting from the rough, or how hard it is to hold greens or make putts from above the hole. This has undoubtedly reinforced the idea that even the world`s top players might struggle over the 72 holes this week.
“All we’re trying to do is build the theater,” Hall explained. “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, perhaps the initial two rounds will bring it to the surface as the course becomes drier, firmer, and tougher. Most, however, appear ready to embrace the challenge. Some even view any dissent from their peers as a potential strategic advantage.
“Being perfectly honest and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out,” Thomas admitted. “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 present a more severe test than most courses. Hanse noted that working on Oakmont, where difficulty is inherent to the original design, felt liberating. This is why instances like groundskeepers using leaf-blowers during practice rounds to fluff up the thick rough are framed as the course and the USGA leaning into the venue`s unique character, rather than merely increasing difficulty for its own sake.
“It’s a very fine line between what’s challenging, what’s good architecture, what’s too much. And I think here you’ve got a situation where it’s never too much,” Hanse reflected. “I mean, it’s almost like their mantra was, ‘Okay, let’s just keep pushing it to a certain limit.’”
Where that limit lies remains uncertain, as does how close the USGA aims to get to it. Weather will also play a role, with rain forecasted for the weekend. Hanse believes that if the rain holds off, the winning score will likely be over par. And while some players may still express frustration or dismiss the challenge, some are self-aware enough to recognize that demanding conditions also create compelling entertainment, even at their personal cost.
“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?” Schauffele commented. “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.”
Nine years since its last turn in the spotlight, all attention is back on Oakmont.
Let the suffering begin.
