Scheffler Warns: Oakmont Could Be the World’s Toughest Golf Course
OAKMONT, Pa. – After several days of preparation for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, the world number one, Scottie Scheffler, has come to a shocking conclusion: this could be the most challenging golf course he has ever seen.Scheffler, current world ranking leader, is the big favorite for this week. His dominance at Augusta National and his ease in beating the best on demanding courses back him up. However, even he faces the toughness of Oakmont, a course that has hosted more U.S. Opens than any other and where no player has ever won with a score better than 5 under par. Scheffler compared the challenges of the majors to the different surfaces of tennis: grass, clay, and hard court. He highlighted that the U.S. Open presents a completely different type of test than the Masters. Oakmont is not just a difficult course; it’s much more.“This is probably the most difficult golf course we’ll play, maybe of all time,” Scheffler declared.
Scottie Scheffler
The difficulty of Oakmont has been the central theme of the championship. Players have spoken at length about the challenges it presents, from the thick rough to the deep bunkers and the fast greens. Bryson DeChambeau, who won the U.S. Open in 2020, commented that to succeed at Oakmont it is crucial to hit the fairways, reach the greens and make a maximum of two putts. Collin Morikawa, another prominent player, admitted that the thickness of the rough is surprising and that clubs can easily twist in it. Morikawa also mentioned that the greens, with their pronounced slopes and potential speed, will be decisive in the final result. Justin Thomas expressed his hope that the difficulty of the course will mentally affect other players. Jon Rahm emphasized that Oakmont will be a demanding test and a true representation of what the U.S. Open is.“When you miss the green at the Masters, the ball rolls and you have options. Here, if the ball goes over the green, you find yourself in heavy rough and you have to figure out how to get it out,” explained Scheffler.
Scottie Scheffler
