I stood on the 14th tee at Oakmont Country Club, my first shot of the day marked by a mix of excitement and intimidation. The rain-soaked fairways stretched out before me, their forgiving softness a rare mercy at a place renowned for its unforgiving challenge. As part of the media invited to experience Oakmont ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open, I was about to test my game on a course that has humbled the world’s greatest golfers.
With each drive, each iron shot, and every nervy putt, I was reminded of Oakmont’s reputation. Sure, the rain had slowed the legendary greens, and the rough wasn’t quite at its full, punishing height, but even in these friendlier conditions, the challenge was undeniable. Playing Oakmont was like trying to solve a puzzle that was constantly shifting, each shot demanding precision and mental focus.
As I made my way through the course, I couldn’t help but think of the giants of the game who have tested themselves here. Standing over a long putt, I thought about Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller, who had conquered this course on the grandest stage. But for me, just making a par felt like a victory, and on more than one occasion, I was reminded that at Oakmont, even bogeys can feel like an achievement.
The best golfers in the world will test themselves at the 125th U.S. Open next month at Oakmont Country Club, but it likely will be the iconic course that is the star of the show. Lightning-fast greens, punishing rough, and a plethora of bunkers await the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, and if USGA and Oakmont officials have their way, it will be among the most challenging tournaments the pros have ever endured.
“There’s no doubt that Oakmont Country Club asks much physically of the world’s best,” said Jeff Hall, USGA managing director of the U.S. Open. “There’s a level of precision that’s required to excel at this venue. But I personally believe that these hallowed grounds offer the most demanding mental test of golf of any U.S. Open venue. Mentally, this golf course will wear you out. But, hey, this is the U.S. Open, and to put your name on that trophy, especially when played at Oakmont, it’s an exhausting process.”
Playing golf at Oakmont Country Club is always an unforgettable experience, but stepping onto those hallowed grounds on Media Day with the U.S. Open just weeks away felt especially surreal. As someone who has navigated Oakmont’s notorious fairways and greens before, I can say this: the course doesn’t just test your game, it challenges your willpower.
On this particular day, we were fortunate, or perhaps lulled into a false sense of security, by wet conditions that made Oakmont more forgiving than usual. The damp fairways and softened greens seemed almost generous, taming the infamous beast that usually leaves even the best players in the world muttering in frustration. But we knew better. This was Oakmont being polite, like a lion lurking before the roar.
During my round, I couldn’t help but think about what the pros will face once the course is dried out and dialed in for the U.S. Open. Even in its more “playable” state, Oakmont’s famous lightning-fast greens and sprawling bunkers remained daunting. The fairways, lush and narrow, seemed almost welcoming, until the rough reminded you that any miss could be catastrophic. I might have avoided disaster a few times that day, but it was clear that when tournament conditions hit, Oakmont will show no mercy.
USGA officials made it clear that the upcoming U.S. Open will be nothing short of a brutal test. Jeff Hall, managing director of the U.S. Open, didn’t sugarcoat it: “Mentally, this golf course will wear you out.” Those who witnessed Dustin Johnson’s victory at Oakmont in 2016 might recall that his 4-under-par finish was an anomaly, one that members of Oakmont hope to avoid this time around.
This year, the rough will be five inches deep at the start of the tournament, with the potential to reach six inches by the final round. The goal? To ensure that no one even flirts with breaking par. The greens, too, will be running fast, between 14 and 15 on the stimpmeter, demanding perfect touch and precision. Add to that the strategic changes from the most recent course renovations, and it’s no wonder that USGA Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer described the preparation as ensuring that “every club in the bag gets dirty, all 15 of them including the one between your ears.”
Gil Hanse’s recent restoration aimed to honor Oakmont’s historic challenge while accounting for the modern game. Lengthening the course by 153 yards, adding strategic bunkering, and restoring original green contours have made the legendary layout even more formidable. One significant adjustment is the deeper and more unpredictable rough around greens, like the new thick patch behind the 8th. Also, ditch hazards will be left in their raw, unforgiving state no more carving them out for easier play.
When the world’s best arrive for the 125th U.S. Open, they’ll be greeted by a course that demands perfection and punishes even slight errors. It’s the kind of place where you don’t just play golf, you endure it. While the conditions we played in may have given us a glimpse of mercy, I know that when the tournament starts, Oakmont will be back to its old, punishing self, ready to humble even the greatest golfers on the planet.
And as I wrapped up my round, I found myself in the locker room at Oakmont, placing my shoes on a bench that may have once held the spike marks of legends and the greatest who ever played the game. It was a small, quiet moment, but in a place where history seems to whisper from every corner, it felt like a reminder of just how special Oakmont truly is.
