It’s time for my favorite event of the year: the U.S. Open. Golf’s toughest test usually delivers on that tagline (we don’t talk about Erin Hills), and we should be in for a treat outside Pittsburgh. It’s one of the few times all year that you’ll see pros look like weekend hacks, and that’s what makes it so great. Whoever comes out on top can more accurately be described as the ultimate survivor rather than the winner, but they’ll get the trophy all the same. Without further ado, let’s break it down.
The Course
Oakmont Country Club is an absolute beast. It’s always been a long course, and any mistakes here will be amplified by the punishing rough and aggressive bunkering all over the layout. Oakmont features 168 bunkers across its 18 holes, including the massive and devastating “Church Pew” (more on that in a moment).
Oakmont is hosting its 10th Open this year, and it’s hosted three PGA Championships to go with it. It’s one of the seminal American golf venues, and it’s purpose-built to inflict as much pain on golfers as possible, even with zero penalty areas or water hazards. Only four holes played under par in 2016, and that was one of the lower-scoring U.S. Opens here.
Featured Holes
We’ll take a look at a few holes for this one.
- Why not start with the opening hole? It was the hardest hole on the course in 2016, and at 488 yards, it’s a true tone setter for what lies ahead.
- Holes 3 and 4 are the Church Pew holes, with the iconic bunker sitting right between them. Hole 4 is one of those under-par holes mentioned earlier, mostly because it’s a par-5 and we know everyone loves a par-5.
- Next up, let’s look at 8. You’ve probably heard about it on social media already, but if you haven’t, it’s a 289-yard par-3. I don’t think any more needs to be said.
- 13 is notorious for its diabolical green. It’s not the longest of par-3s, but crazy slopes and 3 bunkers lying in wait for any miss mean you’ll need to be extra precise to have a shot at par.
- 17 is the “easiest” hole on the course, playing a whole 0.11 strokes below par in 2016. It’s a drivable par-4, sitting at only 312 yards, but with six bunkers guarding the green and a major bottleneck, it’s still no walk in the park, and the landing area is small off the tee.
- 18 is a worthy closer, listed at 502 yards on the scorecard and playing uphill all the way. A par here feels truly earned, and quite frankly, you’d be happy with par on any hole at Oakmont.
Players to Watch
- Scottie Scheffler
- I don’t need to justify this one. Scottie’s getting a 10/10 until further notice.
- Vibes: 10/10
- Bryson DeChambeau
- I touched on this in my Pin Sheet this week, but Bryson’s playbook at Oakmont is pretty dang similar to what he used to win his first major at Winged Foot in 2020: straight up overpower the golf course. It’s a tougher proposition here with what looks to be significantly thicker rough and bunkers galore, but if anyone can do this, it’s Bryson. He’s the defending champ too, winning at Pinehurst last year with a truly special up-and-down on 18 to save par.
- Vibes: Protein Shakes/10
- Ryan Fox
- He’s playing great golf, winning last week in the worst playoff of all time, according to The Land’s resident golf experts, and I don’t disagree. That said, the Kiwi hits it long, putts well, and his irons are on fire, a great match for Oakmont.
- Vibes: 9/10
- Dustin Johnson
- Won here last time, won at Augusta in 2020 when November conditions turned the Masters into a birdiefest, and yeah, that’s all I got for DJ. Dude is so checked out right now, and at this point, I’d be shocked if he makes the cut.
- Vibes: Hammock in Cancun/10
- Keegan Bradley
- Captain America hits it long and has great accuracy off the tee. Basically, exactly what you want, especially with irons as hot as his right now. He’s also in good form, making him an exciting player to watch this week.
- Vibes: 7.5/10
- Rory McIlroy
- I’m not sure what to do with Rory. On the one hand, he finally won his Masters and completed the career Slam. On the other hand, he has not been having a good time lately. He’s gonna need a serious vibes shift to contend this week.
- Vibes: Not Great/10
- Jon Rahm
- Rahm has top 15s in both majors this year, and his game in theory sets up well for Oakmont, as long as the putter cooperates.
- Vibes: 8/10
- Phil Mickelson
- He’s here because even though he hasn’t done anything of note lately, he has a long history with this tournament. It’s the one leg of the career Grand Slam he’s never won, and he has six exceptionally painful runner-ups at this event. Despite what Wes would have you believe after his U.S. Open Fantasy Flip, Lefty ain’t winning it this year either.
- Vibes: Not Happening/10
Model Pick to Watch: Ben Griffin
Griffin’s solid ballstriking and putting make him a great fit at Oakmont this week, and his form doesn’t hurt either. He’s finished in the top 10 in his last 3 events, including a win at Colonial and a solo second at Muirfield. He’s exceptionally well-rounded, with no statistical weaknesses this year, a profile that Oakmont favors heavily. If he keeps it up, expect to see him in contention on Sunday evening.
Final Thoughts
God, I love the U.S. Open. It’s so much fun to watch the best players in the world grind it out and fight for survival, something they’re not used to doing but something us more casual golfers are all too familiar with. I can’t wait to see how the carnage unfolds, and I’ll see you here next week to talk about the final signature event of the year: The Travelers Championship.
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