OAKMONT, Pa. — Approaching Oakmont Country Club from the southwest, the course reveals itself subtly. Hulton Road, lined with charming houses, leads visitors onto the property. Even the view of the recognizable green clubhouse initially acts as a visual separation between the peaceful neighborhood and the formidable test of golf that lies beyond.
Inside the clubhouse, history is deeply embedded in every corner. Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open ten times, more than any other course in the nation. However, stepping out the other side of the building exposes the raw power and challenge of the layout immediately.
“When you stand on the first tee, 10th tee, 18, 9, 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 vast expanse of green turf before you, covering all 191 acres, seems boundless. From the back of the clubhouse, one can see 17 of the 18 flags on the course. It almost feels like a provocative dare: What`s there to be concerned about? Everything is right in plain sight.
One of golf`s most revered venues—a course whose name is synonymous with the U.S. Open—is indeed stunningly beautiful. But it`s also a challenge poised to deliver its famous impact. This week, 156 players from around the globe have arrived, ready to face the scrutiny of the only course ever designed by Henry Fownes. Each one harbors the hope that they might possess the capability to conquer it.
“I truly believe that Oakmont is the most stressful place to play a U.S. Open,” shared Jeff Hall, who has been part of four USGA setup teams at Oakmont. “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 may lead the odds and the current world rankings, even he, along with players like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, is not the central figure in this tournament. This week, Oakmont is the main character. Everyone competing will have four rounds to demonstrate they are worthy of sharing the stage.
“This is probably the hardest golf course that we`ll play,” Scheffler stated. “Maybe ever.”
The notion of a “true U.S. Open” has changed over time. Once characterized by deep rough and dense trees every year, the USGA is now open to selecting host venues like Los Angeles Country Club, where wider fairways and strategic contours are the primary challenges. The historical aim of forcing over-par winning scores has shifted. The focus is now on upholding the spirit and architectural intent of America`s greatest golf courses. Variety—in course design, required shots, and playing styles—has become paramount.
Golf course architect Gil Hanse, who oversaw 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.”
This brings us to Oakmont, where the foundational architecture and subsequent alterations over the decades since its establishment in 1903 have consistently pursued a single objective: increasing the course`s difficulty. The record supports this; in its nine previous championships, the lowest winning score was never better than 5-under par. 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,” Hanse recalled, “they liked this place tough. 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 suggests that Oakmont`s club culture enables it to host a U.S. Open on relatively short notice and simplifies his team`s task to a degree. The most significant preparation involves growing the rough to its formidable five-plus inches for the week. The main challenge lies in weighing factors like weather, green speeds, and hole/tee placements to find the crucial balance between exceptionally difficult and outright impossible.
“You can`t let it go too far,” Hall cautioned. “When you ride Secretariat, you have to hold the reins.”
Beyond its sheer difficulty, the work by Hanse and the USGA`s setup emphasize Oakmont`s complexity. Players often note that Augusta National teaches them where to miss as they gain experience. Oakmont, conversely, with its dense rough, misleading tee shots, and frustrating greens that can roll up to 15 on the Stimpmeter, doesn`t offer obvious safe havens as much as it identifies limited safe zones and makes the journey to them as arduous as possible.
Dealing with its length and the thickness of the rough requires both distance and power. Success on its small, treacherous greens demands finesse to execute shots with the correct trajectory and spin. Regardless of whether your ball lands off the fairway or on the green, you need strategic intelligence to determine the best way to play your next shot.
Justin Thomas observed the dual 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. 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 in handling challenging lies in the rough or unfavorable bounces is critical. Discipline is essential, even when attractive pin positions are within reach from the fairway. A mistake must be both corrected and quickly put out of mind; accumulating errors will guarantee the demise of your round or even your tournament.
Collin Morikawa commented on the course`s penalty: “You know you`re going to get penalized even on good shots, and that`s just part of this golf course. 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 highly penal. Yes, it can feel “impossible,” as Rory McIlroy described shooting an 81 during a practice round with tough pin placements, yet how does one explain the achievements of players like Dustin Johnson, Ángel Cabrera, Johnny Miller, and Jack Nicklaus?
This is a course that does not merely favor greatness; it explicitly demands it.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau remarked, “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.”
For some, the greens, whether due to their speed or slope, might be perceived as overly severe. Michael Kim recently expressed his views, referring to Oakmont`s unconventional greens as “Mickey Mouse,” while also acknowledging that effectively testing the world`s best players today necessitates “a lot of what Oakmont has.”
Justin Thomas, who finished at 8-over par and tied for 32nd in 2016, is familiar with the challenge: “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.”
Whether the course is deemed excessively difficult or even unfair under U.S. Open conditions is best considered with context. As standard PGA Tour events and even some major championships increasingly feature lower winning scores, partly influenced by improved equipment and setups that prioritize distance, Oakmont`s return to the spotlight feels like a welcome change. Even players anticipating the brutal test recognize this.
Xander Schauffele offered perspective: “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 leading up to the tournament, numerous videos have circulated demonstrating the difficulty players face getting out of the thick rough, holding greens, or making putts from above the hole. This content has inevitably built a narrative suggesting that even the world`s most skilled players could struggle over 72 holes this week.
Hall described the USGA`s objective: “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.”
Any underlying frustration among players with the course might surface, particularly as it potentially becomes drier and firmer. However, most appear prepared to embrace the challenge. Some even perceive any public dissent from their peers as a potential strategic advantage.
Justin Thomas frankly admitted, “Being perfectly honest and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out. 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 established reputation allows it to implement a more severe setup than most courses. Hanse found working on Oakmont, where difficulty was ingrained in the original design, to be “freeing.” This context explains why actions like groundkeepers using leaf blowers to intentionally fluff the rough are seen not just as making the course difficult arbitrarily, but as the course and the USGA leaning into the venue`s distinctive personality.
Hanse concluded, “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. I mean, it`s almost like their mantra was, `Okay, let`s just keep pushing it to a certain limit.`”
Precisely where that limit lies, and how closely the USGA aims to approach it, remains unknown. Weather, including forecasted rain for the weekend, will also be a critical factor; Hanse speculated that the winning score would be over par if the rain subsides. And while some players may indeed find themselves frustrated, others are self-aware enough to recognize that the potential for high scores and struggles also provides compelling entertainment for viewers, perhaps at the players` own expense.
Xander Schauffele acknowledged the spectator appeal: “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.”
Nine years since it last held the spotlight, all attention is once again directed towards Oakmont.
Let the suffering begin.