Get ready, golf fans. If you’re into carnage, chaos, and courses that chew up even the best players in the world, the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont is about to become your favorite tournament.
Tournament officials laid out what’s coming during this week’s media day, and let’s just say, it’s not for the faint-hearted, or the faint-handed.
With more than a month to go, Oakmont’s already looking like a nightmare. The rough is thick enough to hide golf balls, swing thoughts, and possibly a few caddies. The greens? They’re revving up toward 15 on the Stimpmeter, which for anyone keeping score at home, borders on madness. And that’s the plan. USGA managing director Jeff Hall called Oakmont “the most demanding mental test” in golf, and this year, it sounds like they’ve turned the screws even tighter.
#NEW: Officials outline tournament conditions for the U.S. Open at Oakmont, per @brian_giuffra
— 5+ inch rough
— Greens running 15+ on stimp
— Winning score over parAre you excited? pic.twitter.com/Afqvt1UmDV
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) May 6, 2025
Fans React To Oakmont Chaos
Fans got their first real taste of what’s coming through a viral video from Barstool Sports’ Barstool Beef, who showed off Oakmont’s monstrous rough. His clip sent shockwaves through golf Twitter.
One fan reacted, “Greens would die at 15, course would be unplayable. Won’t happen.”
Greens would die at 15, course would be unplayable. Won't happen.
— Barcalounger (@zero_delta_1) May 6, 2025
Another called Oakmont “one of the best tracks for the Open.”
one of the best tracks for the Open
— P I N G (@pingree46) May 6, 2025
A third chimed in, “A winning score over par will be wild.”
a winning score over par will be wild
— Phillip Slaton (@phillipslaton) May 6, 2025
That might be exactly what Oakmont’s club members want. According to club president John Lynch, one of their top requests is evident: the winning score needs to be over par. The USGA seems more than willing to make that happen. They’ve allowed five-plus-inch rough and green speeds approaching the outer edges of playable.
Gil Hanse’s recent renovation added 153 yards to the already brutal course, plus some nasty new bunkers and trickier pin locations. One bunker on the seventh hole now demands a nearly 300-yard carry. Miss long on eight, and instead of sand, you’re in a thick patch of rough designed for maximum unpredictability.
Mental exhaustion may be the biggest challenge. “We want the players to get every club in their bag dirty,” said the USGA’s John Bodenhamer. “The 14 in their bag and the one between their ears.”
So while Bryson DeChambeau looks to defend his title, and Rory McIlroy, fresh off his Masters win, eyes another major, the real star this year might just be Oakmont itself. The only guarantee? It’s going to be one hell of a ride.