The year’s third major championship is almost upon us as the world’s best gather round Oakmont Country Club for a stage that has got all the makings to live up to the USGA’s long standing mantra that the US Open should be presented as the toughest test in golf.
If you’re perhaps struggling with your own game and in need of a confidence boost, this is the perfect week to turn on the TV and tune in to professional golf. There’s a good chance you’ll feel better about the state of your golf as this particular test has a tendency to humanise the skill sets of even the most talented on the planet.
In recent US Open’s, there has been criticism levelled at the powers that be, in light of how low the scores have been which doesn’t exactly align with what many a viewer wants, nor what the traditionalists of the sport expect from this of all tournaments. If you’re hoping to see the stars of the golf world struggle, it seems you’ll get your wish over the next four days as many caddies and players predict an over par winning total score come Sunday evening.
Oakmont CC is regarded as one of the most difficult challenges on the US Open rota. The winning number during its hosting in 2007 was +5 from Angel Cabrera. In more recent times, Oakmont’s 2016 staging despite softer conditions, only seen four players manage to finish under par for the event.
For context of the challenge ahead reflecting its current playing conditions, Rory McIlroy played a practice round closing it out with birdies on 17 & 18, to see an 81 on his scorecard. He was quoted as saying he didn’t feel like he even played that bad en route to the shockingly high number by his, or any Touring Professionals standards. When that level of assessment is coming from an individual who only two months ago completed the career grand slam, that surely is a cause for concern for the rest of his peers for their own prospective chances of success this week.
That being said, McIlroy’s driver woes have been well documented in the aftermath of his Masters triumph in his last few outings, and the layout this week will demand nothing less than ultimate control and predictability off the tee if you are to come out unscathed from the challenge of fairways that are routinely shrunk to just over 20yards wide, featuring firm landing zones to cruelly give your ball an extra helping hand in bundling its way into finding unforgiving territory of 5 inch deep rough, to the point where in sections you can barely see the ball as you stand directly over it.
The above pic is of Tyrell Hatton’s ball during a practice round (if you can see it) showing just how difficult a spot you can find yourself in if you veer off the straight and narrow.
To further underscore the critical importance of overall driving efficiency this week, the historical Oakmont data clearly indicates that both components of accuracy as well as length will be at a premium. Notably, the last three winners at this venue have not only found their fair share of fairways, but been a long way down them as Dustin Johnson, Angel Cabrera, and Ernie Els all ranked 1st, 2nd, and 5th in driving distance, respectively, during their winning weeks.
Your job is far from complete even if you can pummel the ball an impressive distance into the short grass, as the courses next defence has during practice rounds, measured at a reported 15 on the stimp meter. (Yep, you read that right, 15!….your local course is maybe a 9 in the summer, and the average on Tour being about a 12). However, the putting surfaces at Oakmont are notorious for their difficulty so this won’t be a feature that surprises players this week. Arnold Palmer had been previously quoted as saying “you can hit all 72 greens in the Open at Oakmont and not come close to winning” along with Ben Hogan before his time uttering the quip that Oakmont’s greens are “so fast they should be illegal.” Oakmont’s greens are pure Poa Annua, infamous for their grain, bumpiness late in rounds, and deceptive breaks.
If you’re trying to give your best attempt at guessing this week’s winner, it feels near impossible to look past the ever dominant world number one Scottie Scheffler. However, if you’re searching for a legitimate alternative contender, I would advise looking at players with proven form on Poa surfaces. Enter the stage: our Irish hopeful, Shane Lowry, who on his last visit to Oakmont in 2016, found himself right in the hunt finishing in a tie for second place. Since then, the Offaly native has gone on to learn what it takes to get over the line in a major championship and is coming into this week after again being in the hunt last week at the Canadian Open.
With a favourable pairing drawn for the opening two rounds that I feel has scope to bring out the best in Shane, as he is set to walk down the fairways Thursday and Friday with European Ryder Cup pals Rory and Rose, don’t be quick to rule out Shane’s chances this week of doubling his major winning tally if he can get himself into contention come Sunday evening.
If the excitement of the year's third major championship about to be under way has sparked your motivation levels to improve your own game, click the below links to access my my online booking diary to secure your place on the lesson tee:
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Seán Marks PGA Professional
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