Oakmont Country Club, You Have Our Attention at the U.S. Open

If this is your first time reading one of my “attention” pieces, first of all, welcome. I usually pick out a player I’m keeping an eye on every week, whether that’s because of a storyline, their history at a tournament, or any of the hundreds of other reasons. But the more I thought about this week, this event in Pittsburgh, one thing became clear…

I can’t wait to stroll around Oakmont Country Club unable to look away from the impending carnage like a bad car wreck.

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This place rocks. I’d never seen it in person until Tuesday morning, and let me tell you, this is a big, big ballpark. Standing on the deck of the media center, I had to strain my eyes to see some of the holes on the front nine—once fans make their way down the first, they have to cross a bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike to walk Nos. 2-9!

But putting aside its pure scale for a second, this place is gorgeous.

The clubhouse sits stoically at the top of the property, looking down on the golf course like a hawk stalking its prey. The perfectly manicured fairways are framed by long, thick rough that would be a nightmare if marshalls weren’t keeping a close eye on wayward tee shots.

The last over-par champion of the U.S. Open was Brooks Koepka eight years ago at Shinnecock. Don’t be surprised if that changes come Sunday afternoon. I know these guys are good, and the rain Pittsburgh’s gotten in the last week has softened this place up a bit, but everything about this track looks impossible.

The rough is hack city. These guys will be lucky to advance the ball more than 50 yards out of this stuff. And the greens are glass, running around 15 on the stimp. Some of the guys were asked what a 18 handicap would shoot around here, and Jason Day said 150. 150!

But one of my favorite things about the golf course is how most of the green run front to back, meaning if the guys are hitting approach shots from the first cut or the rough, it’ll be next to impossible to hold the putting surfaces.

Zac Blair perfectly illustrated the contours of these complexes when he used a putter from over 120 yards on the first during his Tuesday practice round.

How sick is that?

After having to sit through another week at Quail Hollow during the PGA Championship, Oakmont is going to HIT over the next four days.

We don’t see this type of venue much during the year, so enjoy it, folks.

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