The US Open is renowned for its brutal conditions, and this year’s edition at Oakmont will be no different with the USGA setting up the course to be an even tougher test
(Image: Getty Images)
US Open hopefuls will face a formidable challenge at Oakmont next week, with the United States Golf Association (USGA) unveiling its plans for the greens. And they’re promising to make things tough on the game’s very best.
The US Open is notorious for its punishing rough and slick greens, that make low scoring a rare feat for the world’s elite. It’s the most difficult Major to score low. Now this year the USGA are seemingly upping the ante at Oakmont, where the 125th edition of the tournament kicks off on Thursday.
The Pennsylvania course that led to the invention of the stimpmeter – a device measuring green speeds – 90 years ago, has long been a benchmark for challenging play, with the USGA traditionally setting green speeds well above the PGA Tour average of 10-12. Next week, however, players will be contending with greens so fast they’re likened to glass.
According to the Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, the USGA aims for them to run between 14.5 and 14.9 on the stimpmeter over the four days.
And to further add to the difficulty, the rough at Oakmont has been described as “dense and uniformed at five inches,” meaning players will be punished for any slight misjudgment in any part of their games.
Certainly, it has some of the game’s very best worried already. Both Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau have already made reconnaissance trips to acquaint themselves with Oakmont, where Angel Cabrera won in 2007 with a score of five-over-par. It is likely to be a similar score that wins here again.
Reignign US Open champ DeChambeau has already given his fans a glimpse into the gruelling rough, documenting his practice round on his YouTube channel. He couldn’t hide his shock at the sight of his ball nestled in the deep grass.
“Oh my gosh,” he said as he saw a flicker of his ball hidden in the jungle that lines the fairways and greens. “That is cooked beyond belief. That’s more than half-baked there. It’s burnt to a crisp. Oh my gosh.”
Bryson DeChambeau left in disbelief by Oakmont ahead of US Open(Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Despite the challenging conditions, the LIV Golf star wowed viewers by lofting the ball onto the green, although he was left with a daunting putt for par. DeChambeau didn’t mince words on the difficulty he faced, informing his audience: “I’ve got nothing. That’s what Oakmont does to you. That’s some thick rough.”
Later in the video, he added: “This place ate my lunch today. Glad to get a little practice round in. The history of this place is amazing and what an honor to play.”
McIlroy tackled Oakmont on Monday, getting to grips with the course. He revealed just how difficult he found it to Golf Channel’s Eamon Lynch.
Lynch said McIlroy made a triple bogey at the par-four second despite hitting “three good shots.” The Masters champion also had to pull out a 3-wood for the fiendishly long 298-yard par-three eighth hole, resulting in a bogey.
Lynch also claimed McIlroy wasn’t the only golfer to struggle with the challenging course, noting that 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott shot three-over-par for his front nine in practice, despite hitting every fairway.
But those in charge at the US Open will be ramping up the difficulty no matter the pre-tournament struggles of golf’s stars.
