Blog#250 Oakmont C. C.

Blog#250 Oakmont C. C.

Pittsburg Area, PA

June 12-15 2025 Par 70

Purse $21.5M+$1.5K 8%

HISTORY

This will be the 125th US Open and the 10th held at Oakmont which is a US Open record. It was established in 1903 and is considered the oldest top ranked golf course in the US. It straddles the Allegheny river but there are no water hazards and very few trees. The most difficult holes are 1&10.

Holes 3&4 are called Church Pew holes due to the unusual bunkers pictured in blog #248, #8 is a drivable par 4 as is #17. Holes to watch for possible birdies 2, 4,11,12,13,14,17. Best winning score, Ernie Els 1994 & Johnny Miller 1973-5 (279). Expect high scores, especially with all the rain and high rough.

Last year at Pinehurst Patrick Cantlay led after RD1-5 and finished 3rd-4.

Ludvig Aberg led after Rd2-5 but had a triple bogie in RD3 and was done.

In Rd3 DeChambeau at-7 took a 3 shot lead over McIlroy at-4. RD4 McIlroy takes the lead on #14 but then blows the championship missing 2 short putts then a poor tee shot on 18 for bogie, DeChambeau hits the best approach shot of his life, a 55’ chip from the bunker to within 4’ of the hole for a tap in and win.

MY WINNER

Scottie Scheffler was favored at 4/1 last year started with 71+1, finished tied with Brooks Koepka+6. Again this year favorite, if he hits fairways he will win.

MY FAVORITES (not necessarily the oddsmakers)

1 Scottie Scheffler 3/1 If his game is on nobody can beat him, even this field.

2 Xander Schauffele 22/1 Game better each week, if Scottie falters he could win.

3 John Rahm 12/1 Came from behind in RD4 to win at Torry Pines in 2021.

4 Ludvig Aberg 30/1 If he can stay away from DBs,3XB,4xB, he could win.

5 Joaquin Niemann 33/1 One of LIVs best players, has not played well in Majors.

6 Patrick Reed 100/1 Almost tied Rory at Masters 3 putted 17 and finished 3rd-9.

7 Jordan Spieth 55/1 His driving has improved but still to many bogies.

8 Ben Griffin 70/1 First lone win at Charles Schwab & came close at Memorial #2.

9 Sam Burns 80/1 Except for a great finish by Fox, he wins last week with 62 RD4.

10 Brooks Koepka 50/1 Won this in 2017 & 2018 but missed cut in Masters & PGA.

LONG SHOTS

1 Rory McIlroy 11/1 Hard to put him as a long shot, but after the last 2 tournaments?

2 Bryson De Chambeau 7/1 Just like Rory probably not a long shot but the way he hits the driver I think he will be missing fairways and in the rough off the tee much like Rory.

3 Jason Day 120/1 Has had 3 top10’s #8 at Masters, if he is hot he could win.

4 Justin Thomas 40/1 One win and 3 2nds this year but cut at PGA & #31 at Memorial.

5 Mason Howell 1000/1 Just wants to make the cut and make low amateur, High School senior, 17 years old, qualified on Monday and will attend University of Georgia.

COMMENTARY

The US Open is my 4th favorite behind Masters, Jack’s Memorial & THE OPEN. Over the last 4 years since I have been doing this blog, Jon Rahm won in 2021 by birding the last 2 holes, only Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus & Tom Watson have won like that. In 2022 Matthew Fitzpatrick defeated Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris by 1 stroke at Brookline. In 2023

Wyndham Clark defeated McIlroy by 1. Since then he & Fitzpatrick have not done much.