Oakmont Nation Membership describes itself as “The last word examination of Championship golf” – an early indication of the brutal problem the world’s finest will face this week on the US Open.
The Pennsylvania course hosts the third males’s main of the yr for a file tenth time, 9 years on from Dustin Johnson’s US Open victory on the venue, with the par-70 format traditionally providing one of many hardest assessments in golf.
Six-time main champion Phil Mickelson described the course as “the toughest golf course we have ever performed” forward of the 2016 contest, the place solely 4 gamers completed the week below par regardless of heavy rain and storms within the early rounds softening the course.
Dustin Johnson claimed a three-shot victory on the 2016 US Open, ending on 4 below
Angel Cabrera completed on 5 over par when he claimed US Open victory at Oakmont in 2007, with an over-par successful rating a chance as soon as once more at a venue former champion Geoff Ogilvy as soon as referred to being “like the toughest gap you have ever performed on each gap.”
America Golf Affiliation (USGA) historically units up US Open programs to problem all sides of a gamers’ recreation and punish errors, with Johnson’s opening-round 67 in his 2016 success the one bogey-free whole out of 443 official rounds recorded that week.
“It [playing a US Open] is only a battle, it truly is,” mentioned Xander Schauffele, who has completed no worse than 14th in eight US Open appearances. “It may be extraordinarily rewarding if you’ll be able to keep disciplined for 72 holes.
“The cliché assertion of golf is a marathon, it appears to be essentially the most true feeling if you play at US Opens. You simply really feel like you are going to conflict on daily basis.”
The course has been arrange round 150 yards longer than it did 9 years in the past, measuring at 7,372 yards for this yr’s contest, with each par-fives with a most distance of over 600 yards.
“Should you’re a 10-handicapper, there isn’t a manner you are breaking 100 on the market,” former world No 1 Tiger Woods mentioned throughout his Oakmont look in 2007. “Should you performed all out on each shot, there isn’t a manner.”
This yr’s US Open is the a hundred and twenty fifth version
The typical fairway width round Oakmont is 28 yards, with some much more slim, with these lacking the fairways dealing with taking part in out of tough that’s set be 5 inches thick or from considered one of 168 bunkers.
“Full guesswork out of there,” was defending champion DeChambeau’s evaluation of the tough throughout a observe spherical, which he filmed for his YouTube channel. “That [lie] is cooked past perception. That is greater than half-baked there. That is burnt to a crisp!”
Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch reported that Adam Scott was three over for his entrance 9 throughout a observe spherical at Oakmont, regardless of hitting each fairway, whereas additionally saying Rory McIlroy posted a triple-bogey seven on the second gap of his scouting mission.
“This entrance 9 simply eats you up,” DeChambeau added. “Oakmont, you are a beast!”
The course is house to the longest par-three in main golf, with the eighth gap taking part in at a staggering 300 yards in 2007 and arrange at 289 yards – a size that may very well be thought-about a brief par-four for a lot of amateurs – for this yr’s contest.
“Yeah, that is not my favorite gap on the earth,” two-time main winner Justin Thomas mentioned. “I believe you can do another issues with that. However everybody’s going to need to play the identical gap and going to need to execute the identical pictures, and I might love 4 threes on it proper now if I might take it.”
Discovering lengthy fairways and greens in regulation nonetheless depart work to make pars or higher round Oakmont, which has greens former USGA boss Mike Davis described because the “scariest” in golf.
The thirteenth inexperienced is surrounded by bunkers
Onerous, quick and undulating placing surfaces are anticipated to measure slightly below 15 on the Stimpmeter – a tool used to measure the pace of a inexperienced, which is significantly faster than the 12 or 13 ft historically anticipated on the PGA Tour.
“You may’t let your thoughts slip on these greens for one second, or else you are going to be left with presumably a 10- to 15-footer on the following putt, if not worse,” former US Open champion Jordan Spieth beforehand mentioned in regards to the greens.
Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Ernie Els are all former winners at Oakmont, whereas whoever provides their identify to that illustrious listing will definitely have earned their first prize in extra of $4.3million (£3.17m).
Extra scores within the 80s than within the 60s? Extra 4 and five-putts than long-range putts holed? Those that get pleasure from seeing the world’s finest wrestle will relish the chaos and drama anticipated this week.
Gap-by-hole course information
All yardages are primarily based on the US Open media information; Information written by PA media
First – 488 yards, par-four: A extremely demanding opener, with the second shot blind to a inexperienced that slopes from entrance to again.
Second – 346 yards, par-four: Many gamers take an iron off the tee with a ditch left and bunkers proper, however downwind some will attempt to get as shut as they will to a inexperienced the place three putts are frequent.
Third – 462 yards, par-four: The well-known Church Pew bunkers are left of the golf green and the bunkers on the fitting aren’t any enjoyable both. The elevated inexperienced is comparatively flat by Oakmont requirements.
The Church Pews bunker lies between the third fairway (proper) and fourth fairway (left) at Oakmont Nation Membership
Fourth – 611 yards, par-five: The Church Pew bunkers once more come into play and additional traps in the fitting tough are very extreme. Regardless of the size of the opening, driver may not be the most suitable choice off the tee as a result of premium on accuracy.
Fifth – 408 yards, par-four: Irons for place the same old plan of action, leaving an method to probably the most undulating greens.
Sixth – 200 yards, par-three: The primary of the brief holes provides little respite. with a small inexperienced which slopes from proper to left.
Forward of this week’s US Open, take a look at the highest pictures ever performed on the match
Seventh – 485 yards, par-four: One other gap the place par is an actual achievement. Left of the inexperienced is the primary hazard, whereas the placing floor itself is angled severely from left to proper.
Eighth – 289 yards, par-three: The longest par three in main historical past. The inexperienced would possibly nicely be out of attain for some, whereas something barely left is more likely to discover Sahara bunker that’s 100 yards lengthy.
Ninth – 472 yards, par-four: Performs as a par 5 for membership members with a blind uphill drive which should keep away from a ditch left and pot bunkers proper. One other demanding inexperienced.
The ninth inexperienced is in entrance of the clubhouse at Oakmont
tenth – 461 yards, par-four: The primary gap on the again 9 performs downhill, however gamers should discover a slim fairway and ensure to keep away from the bunkers down the fitting.
eleventh – 400 yards, par-four: Common method entails an iron or three-wood to achieve a plateau on the golf green, leaving an method to a inexperienced which slopes from again to entrance.
twelfth – 632 yards, par-five: Longest par 5 ever in majors when it performed to 667 yards in 2016 and technique will play a giant half. As with the fourth gap some might hold driver within the bag, regardless that it is going to imply a far longer third shot.
thirteenth – 182 yards, par-three: Hourglass inexperienced may be very slim and the essential factor is to depart an uphill putt.
14th – 379 yards, par-four: Driveable in beneficial circumstances and the ahead tee. Making birdie and even eagle, although, relies on dealing with a big inexperienced that has loads of subtlety to it.
fifteenth – 507 yards, par-four: Blind tee shot to a fairway that slopes left to proper. Extra Church Pew bunkers down the left, with ditches and additional bunkers on the fitting.
sixteenth – 236 yards, par-three: The big inexperienced slopes left to proper and whereas a lot shorter than the eighth, it might show the more durable of the 2.
seventeenth – 312 yards, par-four: A chance to make up misplaced floor, however there are dangers hooked up. Bunkers lie in wait 50 yards in need of the inexperienced on the left-hand facet.
18th – 472 yards, par-four: One of many hardest closing par fours in golf. Lengthy and straight pictures wanted for each the drive and the method to an undulating inexperienced.
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