The 125th U.S. Open Has Arrived
Soakmont here we come! The architectural wonder is drenched just as it has been during past national championships. A first look at the course, spectator experience, and other notes from Oakmont.
The last few weeks of constant rain have fed the rough and prevented the USGA and Oakmont’s talented crew from presenting firm and fast golf. The region is coming off the wettest May since 1871 when Allegheny County started keeping official records. But even with unseasonably cool temps and the rain, Oakmont is in pristine condition.
The poa annua greens were still rolling in the mid-13’s this morning, the fairways are dreamy-good, the rough absurd, and Oakmont is draining well despite nearly two inches of rain since Thursday (that’s now including another Sunday early evening burst).
Rain has played as much a part of the U.S. Opens at Oakmont as bunker furrowing, shag rough, and marble-fast greens. As “penal” as the design seems with its pews, hackouts, and need to drive it straight, Oakmont is vulnerable to epic rounds because it’s extraordinarily proficient at rewarding a good shot played after accounting for local knowledge. This form of kindness, a form of better stage lighting that actors shine a bit more, has never been of much comfort to the steel-cut types carrying on the Fownes’ misery infliction. (To the point that common sense improvements to fairway lines and green space were reportedly a tough sell.)
The affinity here for raw punishment above bright, shining staging for success is all a bit much since the vast majority want to see the U.S. Open decided by the best all-around player, and not who avoided a week-ending collision with Church Pew Row Seven. Every U.S. Open here has delivered the goods in the form of skill, entertainment, controversy, and old-fashioned U.S. Open crankiness. Even when it’s soft.
This will be a revealing week for a course setup team that has been gradually rebuilding the USGA’s credibility following the Mike Davis era. A number of veteran golfers haven’t forgotten how Davis pushed Chambers Bay and Shinnecock Hills over the edge of reason. As a result, U.S. Open courses have been carefully presented to avoid compromising the event, to the dismay of the Par Protection Drones Society.
The setup group is led by John Bodenhammer and includes Jeff Hall (his fourth Open at Oakmont), Scott Langley, Darin Bevard, Shannon Rouillard, Brent Paladino, and Greg Sanfilippo. They have consistently erred on the side of sanity since Davis moved on to design courses with Tommy Fazio. Why? Because one more post-Shinnecock slip-up featuring a setup-induced play stoppage, and the national Open would have moved to fourth-of-four major status. All signs point to more of an old-school USGA approach this week pushing Oakmont in the rough and green speed departments. Weather permitting.
This was the first time I’ve been to Oakmont since 2016 and the improvements made by the club, GCSAA superintendent Michael McCormick, and architect Gil Hanse have the place looking astoundingly good. And I thought the place was pretty swell in 2016. But they’ve gone from standard def in 2007 to HD in 2016 to 4K in the last nine years. So I can’t wait to see how the added new dimensions make the place even more interesting to watch.
As for the championship’s protagonists, a healthy number of players were not discouraged by Sunday’s dreary conditions. They were doing as much as possible to study a course where local knowledge remains vital even when it is soft.
Regarding the fan experience—I recommend two pairs of socks—you will not be shamed for wearing golf shoes when gates open Monday—the open-to-all merchandise tent was buzzing. The USGA announced last week that all championship rounds are sold out, but a few tickets are still available for Monday through Wednesday.
I’ve tried to cover a few fan and course elements without going inside the ropes (since inside-the-ropes access was wisely limited to players, caddies, and setup officials today due to the sogginess). Here’s a look at the ultimate view in all of major golf—or at least right with the Old Courses 7th/11th grandstand during Old Course Open Championships—a run for the best spot to sit.
If you are attending Monday, players have already signed up for tee times and you can view them here. You will be coming through the impressive spectator village just off to the side of hole No. 3:
Here’s a look at the many new dimensions to the 346-yard second hole: