Why the world’s most brutal golf course could crown an unlikely champion this weekend

The Monster Course That Humbles Champions

In nine previous U.S. Opens at Oakmont Country Club, only 23 players managed to finish under par. Think about that for a moment – this isn’t just difficult golf, it’s psychological warfare disguised as 18 holes.

Three past champions here actually won with over-par scores. The best anyone has ever done across four rounds? A mere 5-under. When the world’s best golfers consistently struggle to break even, you know you’re dealing with something special – and terrifying.

“A lot of unfortunate things are going to happen,” warns Jon Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion who knows a thing or two about surviving major championship pressure. “It’s hard fairways to hit, bad lies, difficult bunkers, difficult greens.”

With ankle-high rough that grabs clubs like quicksand and greens faster than your ex blocking you on social media, Oakmont strips away pretense and exposes what players are really made of.

Can Anyone Stop the Scheffler Steamroller?

Here’s the uncomfortable truth for the rest of the field: Scottie Scheffler looks virtually unbeatable right now. The world No. 1 has won three of his last four starts, including that dominant PGA Championship victory. Over his past five tournaments, he’s gained an average of 14 strokes on the field. Fourteen strokes.

But here’s where it gets interesting – and where hope lives for everyone else.

Scheffler’s Achilles’ heel has always been the driver when things get tight. Remember that final round at Quail Hollow? Even he admitted he might have simply been “aiming the wrong direction.” At a place like Oakmont, where missing fairways is basically signing your death warrant, even the slightest driver hiccup could derail the Scheffler express.

The other wild card? Those infamous Oakmont greens. Scheffler has vastly improved his putting this season, ranking in the top 20 worldwide. But these aren’t normal greens – they’re sloped, lightning-fast puzzles that have broken the spirits of legends. If he starts missing early putts and gets frustrated, that mental poison could spread through his entire game.

Rory’s Mid-Life Golf Crisis

This might be the saddest storyline heading into Oakmont. Rory McIlroy finally conquered his Masters demon, completed the career Grand Slam, and should be flying high. Instead, he’s dealing with what can only be described as a post-achievement hangover.

“You dream about the final putt going in at the Masters, but you don’t think about what comes next,” McIlroy admitted with brutal honesty. The man who chased that green jacket for over a decade is now discovering that success can be its own trap.

The technical issues aren’t helping. His Masters-winning driver was deemed non-conforming, forcing him into a equipment scramble that has wrecked his accuracy. At last week’s Canadian Open, he found only 42% of fairways and shot a soul-crushing 78 in the second round.

But here’s the thing about McIlroy – he’s always been at his best when his back is against the wall. Maybe the combination of equipment struggles and motivational questions creates the perfect storm for a vintage Rory performance. Or maybe Oakmont exposes him at his most vulnerable moment.

The Defending Champion’s Redemption Tour

Bryson DeChambeau enters as the defending champion with a fascinating subplot. Last year at Pinehurst, he found only 57% of fairways but still won thanks to incredible putting and approach play. At Oakmont, that mathematical equation simply won’t work.

Here’s what makes DeChambeau dangerous: he’s quietly been the most consistent major performer not named Scheffler over the past two years. Six top-six finishes in his last nine majors isn’t luck – it’s a pattern.

But there’s a crack in the armor. His approach game struggled at both Augusta and the PGA Championship, and he’s switched to new LA Golf irons this week. Equipment changes during major championships are either strokes of genius or recipes for disaster. There’s rarely middle ground.

When Golf’s Torture Chamber Opens for Business

The course setup promises to be deliciously brutal. The USGA is letting the rough grow to 5 inches – thick, juicy, and unforgiving. After early week moisture, clear skies should firm up those greens to Augusta National-level speed.

“I think they turn on the U.S. Open to see a guy shooting 8 over and suffer,” says Xander Schauffele, understanding exactly what viewers want from this championship. “That’s part of the enjoyment.”

The members at Oakmont are reportedly hoping for an over-par winning score. They want their course to break spirits and humble egos. In an era where equipment and athleticism have made golf easier, Oakmont remains delightfully, stubbornly difficult.

The Dark Horse Ready to Pounce

While everyone focuses on the big names, Harris English sits at 100-1 odds despite being red-hot in majors. His recent record is quietly spectacular: T12 at the Masters, 10th at the Truist Championship, second at the PGA Championship, and 12th at the Memorial.

English does three things perfectly for Oakmont: finds fairways, hits greens, and putts brilliantly. In a week where survival matters more than spectacular, those boring strengths could prove golden.

The Bottom Line

Oakmont doesn’t care about your world ranking, your recent form, or your bank account. It cares about precision, patience, and mental toughness. In a sport increasingly dominated by power and athleticism, this course rewards old-school virtues.

Scheffler remains the favorite, but Oakmont has a way of creating chaos. Don’t be surprised if we see tears, tantrums, and a champion who emerges from the wreckage not because he played perfect golf, but because he survived when others crumbled.

Sometimes the most beautiful stories come from golf’s ugliest tests.