The 2025 major season is already something else with Rory McIlroy producing a Masters win for the ages while Scottie Scheffler is now a three-time champion and halfway to his career Grand Slam.
We’ll sign off at Royal Portrush but next we’ll head to the US Open at one of the most iconic courses in the States.
Where are we off to?
It will be the 125th US Open and it will take place at Oakmont Country Club for what will be the 10th time. The tournament runs from June 12-15.
The previous visits have been in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007 and 2016. Previous winners here include Ben Hogan (1953), Jack Nicklaus (1962), Johnny Miller (1973), Ernie Els (1994) and Dustin Johnson nine years ago
No other course has staged the USGA’s showpiece more times.
It has also held three PGA Championships, two US Women’s Opens and six US Amateurs – Bobby Jones would win here in 1925.
What’s it best known for?
You’ll hear plenty about Miller’s closing 63 to win his first major in 1973. He would go into Sunday six shots back and in a four-way tie for 13th but he then birdied the first four holes and, by the 14th, was tied for the lead with Arnold Palmer, Julius Boros and Tom Weiskopf. Miller birdied 15 and lipped out from 20 feet at 18 for the first 62 in a Major though it would be the first 63.
Few remember the fact that little-known John Schlee had a 45-foot birdie chip to tie Miller but he came up just shy. The champion hit all 18 greens, took just 29 putts and 10 of his approaches finished inside 15 feet.
He was round in eight under on a day when only three other players shot in the sixties.
Anything else?
You will also hear about how Nicklaus, the young pretender, upset the local and national hero Palmer in front of 10,000 fans. Palmer had won two of the last three majors but the 22-year-old from Ohio won by three.
Then there was Johnson being adjudged to have made his ball move on the 5th green and was penalised a shot AFTER he had finished. Shane Lowry had begun the final round four shots clear.
What is the signature hole?
The two par 5s will measure over 600 yards and the Church Pews, that sit between the 3rd and 4th fairways, will be well photographed.
Then there’s the par-3 8th that measures a whopping 289 yards and appears to have been lengthened by a single yard from 2016. In 1973 Miller three-putted for his only dropped shot and it averaged 3.30 in 2016.
Oakmont represents one of the hardest layouts. It’s not tight off the tee though the fairways are sloping and has seen thousands of trees removed before the 2007 Open but the bunkers are truly penal and the greens are rapid.
Have the big guns played here before?
McIlroy shot 77-71 to miss the cut here by two in 2016 while Scheffler actually qualified while still an amateur. After day one he was the leader in the clubhouse on -1 after dangerous weather forced an early finish but he then missed the cut with a second-round 78. Bryson DeChambeau turned pro in April of 2016 so forfeited his exemption but did get in through the sectional qualifying and tied for 15th.
Lowry slumped to a closing 76 when a first major looked on the cards.
The official Oakmont website describes the course as “The ultimate examination of championship golf”.
READ MORE: Can anyone play 2025 US Open venue Oakmont Country Club?
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