WELCOME to the torture chamber hosting golf’s top stars for the next four days, as the US Open comes to Oakmont for a record tenth time.
Some holes are as notorious as the players are famous, with hot favourite Scottie Scheffler calling it “probably the hardest golf course that we’ll play – maybe ever”.
AlamyEnglish ace Justin Rose gets down to business in practice[/caption]
AlamyScottie Scheffler is the favourite after three wins in four tournaments[/caption]
ReutersBryson DeChambeau asked for patience as he signed autographs[/caption]
It’s three and far from easy for players at Oakmont this week
Back in 2007 legend Tiger Woods took one look at the notorious Church Pew bunker that splits the third and fourth fairways – a 100 yard long stretch of sand featuring 12 three foot high grass ridges – and decided he wanted nothing to do with it.
However, reigning champion Bryson DeChambeau will hope to find big-hitting answers.
And world no.2 Rory McIlroy aims to build on his maiden Masters triumph.
But here’s a look at three of the toughest holes any golfer could face – plus the verdict of leading players on the ominous Oakmont course.
Hole 3 (par 4 – 462 yards)
THIS difficult par-four provides the first sight of the massive Church Pews bunker down the left-hand side of the fairway.
And if you steer too far wide of it, there is a row of deep bunkers down the right waiting to gobble up balls.
Rated as one of the toughest holes on the course — just ask Tiger Woods. He made his only double-bogey here in 2007 and ended up finishing one shot behind eventual winner Angel Cabrera.
APDeChambeau hailed his US Open glory at Pinehurst last year[/caption]
GettyTiger Woods famously found trouble at Oakmont in 2007[/caption]
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Hole 4 (par 5 – 611 yards)
ONE of only two par-fives and considered a must-birdie hole as it is shorter than the 12th — which can play anything from 632 to 684 yards. Church Pews bunker is in play down the left. Going for the green in two means taking on a long, blind shot.
Hole 8 (par 3 – 289 yards)
THIS is where The Beast — as Oakmont is known — really shows its teeth.
It usually plays into the wind, so most will have to reach for the driver.
Johnny Miller made his only bogey when he shot a course-record 63 on his way to the 1973 US Open here. He said it felt like a par!
Scheffler’s “hardest ever” verdict on the course is more than matched by the assessment of fellow superstar players.
Double UPSGA champ Justin Thomas says “you can look stupid pretty fast” at the US Open venue, and reckons it will “psyche a lot of guys out before they hit a shot”.
But another double Major winner, Xander Schauffele – regarded as a robot at churning out great US rounds after finishing inside the top 15 in all eight attempts – confessed: “Maybe I’m just sick to enjoy the challenge.”
GettyDeChambeau watches his practice putt on the 14th green[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialScheffler putts on the same hole on the tournament eve[/caption]
But is all the talk about this 7,531 yards par 70 being the toughest course on the planet justified? In the words of Dustin Johnson, who won here in 2016: “Hell, yeah!”
Johnson finished four under par nine years ago, on a course playing much easier than usual, because so much rain fell it was nicknamed ‘Soakmont’.
But only three other players in the 156 man field finished below par – all on one under – and 14 of the 18 holes played above par. Eight of them featured in the top fifty hardest holes among the 990 used on the PGA Tour that year.
That did not compare to what happened at the previous US Open at Oakmont, in 2007. That year all EIGHTEEN holes played over par.
Angel Cabrera won at five over, a shot clear of Jim Furyk and Woods, who felt he played great that week.
Meanwhile, Woods’ Pew peril led to caddie Steve Williams suggesting he should throw a few balls in there so Woods could practice escaping from the trap.
Woods shook his head and replied: “No way. I don’t practice negativity. I’m just going to avoid it. I’ll hit away from it every day.”
The hole that strikes most terror in competitors’ hearts is the 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond 300 yards at least once this week.
He did, but still only managed to break par once on his way to runners-up spot.
But the hole that strikes most terror into the hearts of the competitors is the fearsome 289 yards par three eighth, which is likely to be pushed back beyond the 300 yards mark at least once this week.
World No 4 Collin Morikawa did not realise it was a par three the first time he played it in practice.
He explained: “I completely forgot that that was the long par three, and I honestly asked Joe, my caddie, and everyone in the group, do you go for this par four or do you lay up?
“Now that I know it’s a par three, I recommend going for it! I’ll probably hit driver or three wood and hopefully hit the green. If not, make up-and-down.
“Honestly. it’s a hole I’ll take four pars right now, and walk away.”
Schauffele reckons some players will have bruised egos about using a driver on a par three, but said they had to “suck it up” to give themselves the best chance of making par.
And he reckons TV viewers will love the carnage they are likely to witness over the next few days.
He explained: “I don’t think people turn the TV on this week to watch some of the guys just hit like a 200 yard shot onto the green, you know what I mean?
“I think they turn on the U.S. Open to see a guy shooting eight over, and watch him suffer. That’s part of the enjoyment of the U.S. Open for viewers.
“My attitude is that you have to stay as calm as possible because we’re all going to struggle at times. Maybe that’s why I’ve done so well in this tournament.
Shutterstock EditorialSam Burns is a figure of focus as he practices[/caption]
“I think I look pretty level-headed when I play, but internally I might be absolutely just thrashing myself. That happens to me more than you might think.
“I think truly having a good attitude is accepting what just happened, and allowing yourself to be pretty much at zero to hit the next shot.”
Thomas believes most of the field will not be able to handle the setbacks as well as the top players.
He said: “Being perfectly honest, and very selfish, I hope it psyches a lot of players out. This course requires tons of patience and discipline, and not everyone can get a handle on that.
“Above all else, Oakmont tests the mental aspect of your game. But with tight fairways, deep rough, difficult bunkers and lightning fast greens it also tests you to the limit technically too.
“If you just get lazy – like on any drive, any wedge shot, any chip, any putt – you can look stupid pretty fast.
“But I understand this place is hard. I don’t need to read articles, or I don’t need to hear horror stories. I’ve played it. I know it’s difficult.”
So sit back and enjoy the ride. It is going to be a bumpy one.
ReutersCollin Morikawa took a snap of Gary Woodland’s club[/caption]
AlamyWill Chandler spent time on the driving range[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
