Golf has seen plenty of flash and flair in recent years, but this week at Oakmont Country Club, it’s all about the raw challenge.
If you’re a fan of golf’s elite being pushed to their absolute limits, the US Open at Oakmont is exactly where you want to be watching.
Why Oakmont is Known as The Beast
Oakmont isn’t just any course — members who shelled out a hefty £150,000 joining fee call it “The Beast.”
That nickname alone says a lot. Phil Mickelson famously called it the hardest course he’d ever played, and Tiger Woods once said a 10-handicap player wouldn’t break 100 there, even on their best day.
The course’s reputation is legendary, not because of fancy water hazards or towering trees, but because of the sheer toughness baked into every hole.
Bryson DeChambeau nailed it when he said, “It wasn’t designed to be fair; it was designed to be feared.”
A Course Built to Punish Mistakes
The original designer, Henry Fownes, built Oakmont back in 1903 with one clear idea in mind: a poorly hit shot should be “irretrievably lost.”
More than a century later, that tough-as-nails philosophy is alive and well.
The course is unforgiving, punishing any slight mistake with severe consequences.
Even top pros feel the sting. Adam Scott recently played the front nine and hit every fairway but still came in three shots over par.
Rory McIlroy, who’s no stranger to tough tests, got a little reminder on the course that even legends like Johnny Miller struggled here — and his witty reply showed just how brutal Oakmont can be.
The Perfect Venue for the US Open
If there’s one thing the US Open prides itself on, it’s being a tournament where birdies are rare, and players get humbled in front of millions.
Oakmont’s punishing layout fits this ethos perfectly.
Jordan Smith summed it up best when he said the US Open likes to make the course tough and watch the players have “a disaster live on TV” — and that’s exactly what fans tune in to see.
History of Champions and Legendary Moments
Oakmont’s history speaks volumes. It has hosted nine US Opens with champions like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Dustin Johnson.
The course has a reputation for crowning only the toughest winners, and no one has ever won there with a score better than five under par.
Despite the brutal difficulty, Oakmont doesn’t rely on flashy visuals.
It’s a 7,372-yard, par 70 layout with surprisingly few trees and no water hazards — a fact that might fool the eye.
The real challenge lies in its lightning-fast, contoured greens, which have been called even trickier than those at Augusta National.
Narrow Fairways and Ruthless Rough
The course’s narrow fairways are a nightmare to hit, especially without the protection of trees, which means the wind can whip around freely.
Missing a fairway is costly: Oakmont is dotted with about 200 bunkers and has some of the thickest rough you’ll see in any major.
Bryson DeChambeau’s videos of balls disappearing in the rough show just how brutal it is.
And once you’re stuck in that thick grass, hitting a solid approach shot becomes a real test of skill.
Who’s Poised to Tame The Beast?
If Rory McIlroy’s driving accuracy stays consistent, he’s got a shot — after all, he’s had six straight top-10 finishes at the US Open and has been runner-up twice in recent years.
Still, Oakmont has humbled him before; he missed the cut back in 2016.
Others to watch include Scottie Scheffler, who’s been in great form with three wins in his last four starts, and Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time US Open champ who called Oakmont “the world’s hardest course” and said it “challenges your sanity” as much as your golf game.
Oakmont’s Dark Tales and Golfing Legends
Oakmont’s tough reputation isn’t just about scores.
It’s packed with stories of heartbreak and struggle.
Colin Montgomerie, who finished second to Ernie Els in 1994, once went eight over through 11 holes in an 18-hole playoff — a brutal demonstration of the course’s difficulty.
There are famous tales from years past, like Art Doering winning a collegiate tournament there after his opponent lost five shots out of bounds on the first hole.
Or Phil Rodgers getting stuck in a tree on the 17th in 1962.
Then there’s the legendary Tommy Armour, who once famously
scored a 23 on a hole at a nearby course just days after winning the US Open at Oakmont.
The Ultimate Challenge Awaits
Playing Oakmont is a humbling experience even for skilled amateurs.
When the Mail Sport team played it before the 2016 US Open, they shot a 120 from a 16 handicap and lost plenty of balls along the way — proof that this course lives up to its fearsome reputation.
With the US Open about to unfold, all eyes are on Oakmont to see which of golf’s greats will survive The Beast and claim one of the toughest major titles in the sport.