Oakmont Country Club Challenges Golf’s Elite at U.S. Open

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania — The first round of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club proved to be a formidable challenge for many of golf’s top players, with only 10 finishing under par on Thursday.

Leading the charge was American JJ Spaun, who shot a remarkable 4-under 66 for his first bogey-free round in a major tournament. Spaun, competing in just his second U.S. Open, credited his lack of previous experience at the course for helping him relax. “I kind of came out here with no prior history at Oakmont, not really knowing what to expect,” he said.

South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence followed closely at 3-under, while Si Woo Kim, Brooks Koepka, and Sungjae Im rounded out the 2-under finishers. Several big names struggled against the course’s notorious layout, with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finishing at 3-over 73, visibly frustrated as he navigated the deep rough and lightning-fast greens.

“The golf course is just challenging,” Scheffler said. “You’ve got to do your best to stay under the hole and stay patient.” Other players echoed his sentiment, describing the course’s relentless difficulty. Viktor Hovland noted that Oakmont demands intense focus, stating, “Every shot you’re on a knife edge.”

Rory McIlroy, who started strong with a 392-yard drive, fell victim to the course’s pitfalls, struggling to recover from bad lies and finishing with a 4-over 74. He described his experience as exhausting, likening it to working through a minefield.

A standout moment came from LIV golfer Patrick Reed, who made history with an albatross on the par-5 fourth hole, though he finished the day with a 3-over 73. “I didn’t know I’d just hit the fourth-ever recorded albatross in U.S. Open history,” Reed said, smiling as he recounted the shot.

As the sun began to set, the course’s challenging aspects became evident. Deep rough, severe bunkers, and slick greens continued to test the players, with Friday’s weather forecast suggesting even tougher conditions ahead.

“It just puts so much pressure on every part of your game,” said Thomas Detry after finishing under par. “But it could be a bloodbath out here if it suddenly starts to blow.” The second round will commence early Friday, as players look to survive another punishing day at Oakmont Country Club.