OAKMONT, Pa. — The approach to Oakmont Country Club from the southwest is subtle. Hulton Road, lined with charming houses, guides you onto the property. Even when the renowned green clubhouse comes into view, it seems to shield the challenging course from the peaceful neighborhood outside.
Step inside the clubhouse, and history is immediately apparent. Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open ten times, more than any other course in the nation. Emerge from the other side, however, and the sheer scale and difficulty of the formidable course strike you forcefully.
“When you stand on the first tee, 10th tee, 18, 9, you get a layout of the whole property,” noted Jon Rahm. “You get to see the entirety of it, as beautiful as it is.”
Before you lies a vast expanse of green, all 191 acres appearing endless. From the back of the clubhouse, a stunning 17 out of 18 flags are visible. It almost seems to tease: “What`s there to fear? It`s all laid out before you.”
This iconic venue, deeply associated with the U.S. Open, is undeniably beautiful. Yet, it`s also a formidable challenge, ready to assert its famous difficulty. 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 conquer it.
“I truly believe that Oakmont is the most stressful place to play a U.S. Open,” Jeff Hall, a member of four USGA setup teams at Oakmont, told ESPN. “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 intensified.”
While Scottie Scheffler may be the current favorite and the world`s top player, neither he nor stars like Rory McIlroy or Bryson DeChambeau are the central figures this week. At this tournament, Oakmont itself takes center stage. Every competitor has four rounds to demonstrate they are worthy of sharing 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. Deep rough and dense trees were once standard. Today, the USGA selects host sites like Los Angeles Country Club that feature wider fairways and challenging contours as primary defenses. The focus has shifted from merely forcing high over-par scores to honoring the original architectural intent of the country`s greatest courses. Variety in courses, shots, and player styles is now highly valued.
“They`re recognizing the original architecture and they`re embracing it,” said golf course architect Gil Hanse, who led the restoration efforts at Oakmont in 2023. “They`re not trying to fit a model.”
Oakmont, however, is a different story. Here, the original architecture and subsequent modifications over decades since its 1903 founding have consistently aimed at one goal: making the course increasingly difficult. As evidence, in its nine prior championships, the winning score has never been lower 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 explained. “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 notes that Oakmont`s club culture allows it to be ready to host a U.S. Open on short notice and simplifies his team`s role to some extent. The primary setup task is growing the rough to the demanding five-plus inches expected this week. The main challenge lies in balancing weather, green speeds, hole locations, and tee boxes to find that delicate point 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 just difficulty, thanks to Hanse`s work and the USGA`s setup, Oakmont offers immense complexity. Players often say Augusta National teaches you where to miss the shot. Oakmont, with its thick rough, misleading tee shots, and perplexing greens running up to 15 on the Stimpmeter, doesn`t offer places to miss as much as it points out safe areas while making the path to them incredibly challenging.
It demands both distance and strength to handle its length and the density of the rough. It also requires finesse to shape shots with the right trajectory and spin to land on the specific, challenging sections of its greens. And regardless of whether your ball is in the fairway or on the green, you need strategic thinking to determine the best way to play the next shot.
“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,” observed Justin Thomas. “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 facing awkward lies in the rough or unfortunate bounces. Discipline is essential when tempted by challenging pin positions, even from the fairway. A mistake must be corrected and quickly forgotten, as compounding errors will ruin your round or even your tournament hopes.
“You know you`re going to get penalized even on good shots, and that`s just part of this golf course,” stated Collin Morikawa. “I don`t think people understand how thick the rough is. This is just thick. Clubs will turn over.”
Yes, Oakmont is punitive – its bunkers are strategically placed and severely penalizing. Yes, Oakmont can feel, as McIlroy described his recent practice round 81 with tough pins, `impossible.` Yet, how then do we explain the success of players like Dustin Johnson, Ángel Cabrera, Johnny Miller, and Jack Nicklaus?
This is a course that doesn`t just favor greatness; it requires it.
“I think everybody knows this is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now,” said defending champion Bryson DeChambeau. “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.”
For some, the greens, whether due to speed or slope, might seem excessive. Michael Kim recently posted his thoughts, referring to Oakmont`s diverse greens as `Mickey Mouse` while acknowledging that to truly test the world`s best today, “you need a lot of what Oakmont has.”
“I understand this place is hard,” commented 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 vital when considering if this course is too difficult or unfair under U.S. Open conditions. As regular PGA Tour events and even some major championships trend towards lower winning scores, facilitated by better equipment and setups that favor a single style of golf focused on distance, Oakmont`s return feels like a welcome change. Even players bracing for the challenge 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,” said Xander Schauffele. “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, players have featured in videos highlighting the difficulty of extracting balls from the rough or holding the greens, especially with putts from above the hole. This has inevitably built a narrative suggesting that even the world`s top golfers might struggle over 72 holes.
“All we`re trying to do is build the theater,” Hall remarked. “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.”
If frustration is already simmering among players, the first two rounds might bring it to the surface as the course becomes drier, firmer, and even tougher. Most, however, appear prepared to embrace the challenge. Some even view dissent from their competitors as a potential 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 degree of difficulty that might be questioned elsewhere. Hanse mentioned that working on Oakmont, where difficulty is integral to the original design, felt liberating. This is why actions like groundskeepers using leaf blowers during practice rounds to fluff up the rough are seen as the course and USGA leaning into the venue`s unique character, not just making it hard arbitrarily.
“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 commented. “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 to be seen, as does how close the USGA intends to get to it. Weather will also play a role, with rain in the forecast for the weekend. Hanse believes that if the rain subsides, the winning score will likely be over par. And while some players may still feel frustrated, even scoffing at the challenge, some are self-aware enough to recognize that chaos can also generate entertainment, even at their own expense.
“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 remarked. “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 after its last major moment, all eyes are once again on Oakmont.
Let the suffering begin.
