The U.S. Open: Oakmont, the course that will test the best golfers
Oakmont Country Club, host of the 125th U.S. Open, promises to be a relentless challenge for professional golfers. Preliminary reports from the course, following recent visits by professionals, describe it as a place of “carnage” and the “toughest course in the world.”
Get ready for a spectacle where survival will depend on the ability to navigate the rough that reaches ankle height, the narrow streets, the famous Church Pews bunker, and the fast greens, which will test the patience of more than one.
“I’ve heard from several players that it’s the most difficult course they’ve played on,” commented Xander Schauffele.
Xander Schauffele
Oakmont is a familiar ground for the U.S. Open, this being the tenth time it hosts it. The USGA (United States Golf Association) returns for a reason: to offer golfers the most demanding test of the season.
“I would say the rumors and everything else are pretty accurate,” added Justin Thomas, who played a practice round at Oakmont two weeks ago.
Justin Thomas
Favorites
Scottie Scheffler is the clear favorite. After winning the PGA Championship last month, and adding two Masters victories, Scheffler could complete three-quarters of the Grand Slam with a win this Sunday.
Scheffler has won three of the last four tournaments he has participated in, including the Memorial Tournament. His current dominance likens him to Mariano Rivera in the last nine holes on Sunday.
In the 2016 Open at Oakmont, Scheffler, at 19 years old, achieved a 69 under par in the first round, although he did not make the cut.
The Contenders
Bryson DeChambeau, after winning his second US Open title at Pinehurst, is one of the contenders. Although he missed many fairways, his ability to hit the ball a long distance, combined with good play on the greens, makes him dangerous.
Rory McIlroy will seek redemption after his performance at last year’s US Open. McIlroy doesn’t seem to have much confidence off the tee at the moment, and he missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open last week.
Other contenders include Collin Morikawa, Jon Rahm, Russell Henley, Sepp Straka, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Åberg, Hideki Matsuyama, and Justin Thomas.
If all goes well
Here are the surprise candidates to lift the US Open trophy on Sunday. The list includes former major champions, rising stars, and other players whose games have been works in progress this season.
Some names to consider are Tony Finau, Brian Harman, Cameron Smith, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jordan Spieth, and Brooks Koepka, among others.
