From the pristine fairways and lighting fast greens to the punishing bunkers and club-twisting rough, Oakmont Country Club is one of the toughest tests for even the world’s best golfers, who will descend upon Western Pennsylvania for the 125th U.S. Open from June 12-15.

TribLive is producing a hole-by-hole look at what makes Oakmont Country Club one of the most popular and anticipated stops for the USGA.

Hole 1 breakdown

488 yards, Par 4

Handicap: 1

2016 U.S. Open stroke average: 4.45

Description

Widely considered one of the most challenging opening holes in golf, the first hole at Oakmont Country Club requires a well-placed tee shot into a narrow fairway. Strategically placed bunkers line the left and right side of the fairway, and a treeline sits along the right side of the hole.

A mid-iron is needed to reach a green that slopes away from the fairway, leaving shots unlikely to settle where they land.

Players have been known to leave their approach short and putt from well in front of the green to avoid trouble behind the putting surface.

During the 2016 U.S. Open, this hole saw 161 bogeys.

AP Zach Johnson gets ruling on the first hole during third round of the U.S. Open golf championship at Oakmont Country Club on Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Oakmont, Pa.  

Memorable moment from U.S. Open

Aaron Baddeley held a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the 2007 U.S. Open. He teed off that Sunday afternoon in a pairing with Tiger Woods.

After his approach fell short of the green, he chipped over the surface and then three-putted for a triple-bogey.

His lead disappeared on the first hole, and he went on to shoot 80.

TribLive Aaron Baddeley aligns his putt during the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.  

How the locals play it

Palmer Jackson, a Franklin Regional and Notre Dame graduate, plays on the HotelPlanner Tour, a feeder tour to the DP World PGA European Tour. The two-time WPGA junior player of the year (2017, ’18) has years of experience playing courses throughout Western Pennsylvania, including Oakmont Country Club.

“It’s gonna be a real challenge for the players,” Jackson said. “No. 1, I don’t care what you do, you just have to hit the fairway, because if you don’t, chances are you’re not gonna be able to hit the green. So I think you’ll see a lot of guys potentially hitting a mini driver. I don’t play one, but it’s something that adds a little bit of spin that’ll kind of keep the ball maybe in the fairway 20% more. Then into the green, just based on the firmness, you just judge where you have to land it.”

Christopher Horner | TribLive Palmer Jackson watches his tee shot on number 18 during the U.S. Open qualifier on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Quicksilver Golf Club.  

Around the U.S Open

Spotlight

Scottie Scheffler

The No. 1 player in the world has been on a dominant run over the past three years.

Among the highlights were a gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games and major victories at the 2022 and ’24 Masters, as well as the PGA Championship on Sunday. He also was the 2024 FedEx Cup champion.

Scheffler, 28, has posted 15 wins on the PGA Tour, along with 10 runner-up and 11 third-place finishes.

He has made more than $81 million since turning pro in 2018.

While he has yet to win the U.S. Open in seven attempts, he placed third at The Los Angeles Country Club in 2023 and was second at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., in ’22.

Scheffler finished as the low amateur when he played in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont. He shot 1-under-par 69 in the first round and 8-over 78 in the second round to finish 7-over and miss the cut.

TribLive Scottie Scheffler hits the ball out of the infamous Church Pew bunkers on Hole 15 at Oakmont Country Club while playing in the second round of the U.S. Open on Saturday, June 18, 2016.  

By the numbers

10,202 - There were a record number of entries for U.S. Open qualifiers this year.

17 - Number of USGA championships held at Oakmont Country Club, including nine U.S. Opens.

73.57 - Average score at the 2016 U.S. Open.

Quotable

“Our members and all of Pittsburgh are so excited to host the USGA and the best players in the game at Oakmont, which we believe is one of the most exacting tests of golf anywhere in the world. It is the perfect venue to identify the best golfers around the globe, in concert with the USGA’s mission for championship golf.”

— Oakmont Country Club’s former president, Ed Stack, when the club was awarded a 10th U.S. Open

Shane Dunlap | TribLive Ed Stack, former president of Oakmont Country Club, addresses a group gathered for a press event announcing Oakmont Country Club as the second anchor site on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021 at Oakmont Country Club.  

Oakmont history

The U.S. Open has been contested nine times at Oakmont Country Club. Here’s a look at the champions:

Year, Winner, Score, Prize

1927, Tommy Armour*, 13-over 301, $500

1935, Sam Parks Jr., 11-over 299, $1,000

1953, Ben Hogan, 5-under 283, $5,000

1962, Jack Nicklaus*, 1-under 283, $17,500

1973, Johnny Miller, 5-under 279, $35,000

1983, Larry Nelson, 4-under 280, $72,000

1994, Ernie Els*, 5-under 279, $320,000

2007, Angel Cabrera, 5-over 285, $1.26 million

2016, Dustin Johnson, 4-under 276, $1.8 million

*won in playoff

Christopher Horner | TribLive Dustin Johnson holds the championship trophy after winning the 2016 U.S. Open Sunday, June 19, 2016, at Oakmont Country Club.  

---

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)

---