Next Thursday sees the start of the second major golf tournament of the year, as The US Open gets underway.
This will be the 116th edition of the tournament, and will be held at Oakmont Country Club in Plum, Pennsylvania – the first time it has been played there in 9 years.
Last year’s Champion was American Jordan Spieth, who finished 1 shot ahead of his nearest challengers en route top becoming the number 1 ranked player in the world.
The US Open however has been fairly good to the British players as of late, with 3 different winners in the last 6 years, with those being Graeme McDowell in 2010, Rory Mcllroy in 2011, and Justin Rose in 2013.
There should be a 156 strong field of competitors taking to the fairways and greens with the winner of the tournament picking up the Open Trophy and a cool $1.8 million, which is stark contrast to the first ever tournament in 1895 when Englishman Horace Rawlins took home a prize of $150 and a $50 gold medal.
The U.S. Open is staged at a variety of courses, set up in such a way that scoring is very difficult with a premium placed on accurate driving. U.S. Open play is characterised by tight scoring at or around par by the leaders – In fact last time the tournament was held at Oakwood the winning score was 5 over par.
Speaking of Oakwood, few venues in the world of golf have the championship tradition that it oozes. Introduced in 1903 by designer Henry Fownes, Oakmont Country Club has hosted more major Championships than any other course in the U.S., including eight United States Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, three PGA Championships, and two U.S. Women’s Open.
Oakmont remains perhaps the most difficult course in North America, with 210 deep bunkers, hard and slick greens that slope away from the player, and tight fairways requiring the utmost precision. Oakmont was the site of “the greatest round of the 20th century”: Johnny Miller’s final round 63 at the 1973 U.S. Open.
Golf Digest ranks Oakmont #4 in its most recent version of America’s Top 100 courses.
The holes of Oakmont.
Out
1. 482 yards Par 4
2. 340 yards Par 4
3. 428 yards Par 4
4. 609 yards Par 5
5. 382 yards Par 4
6. 194 yards Par 3
7. 479 yards Par 4
8. 288 yards Par 3
9. 477 yards Par 5
In
10. 462 yards Par 4
11. 379 yards Par 4
12. 667 yards Par 5
13. 183 yards Par 3
14. 358 yards Par 4
15. 499 yards Par 4
16. 231 yards Par 3
17. 313 yards Par 4
18. 484 yards Par 4
Total yards = 7255 (Par 71)