Aiming for consecutive major victories, Scheffler sets sights on challenging Oakmont's storied course.
Revised Article:
In the world of golf, it's been a hot minute since we've seen a two-time Masters Champion sweep consecutive major crowns. But that's precisely what two-time Masters kingpin Scottie Scheffler, a 28-year-old American powerhouse, is aiming for. On a streak that's seen him win three out of his last four tournaments, including the PGA Championship and the Memorial, Scheffler's yet to show signs of cooling off.
However, this week's event offers a severe test - the notorious Oakmont Country Club, hosting the 2025 U.S. Open. Known for its thick high rough, tricky bunkers, and lightning-fast sloped greens, the course is famously renowned as one of the toughest in the game.
"This is probably the hardest golf course that we'll play, maybe ever," Scheffler admitted. "It's just a different type of test."
Stepping up to the challenge, the oddsmakers have tipped Scheffler as the favorite, edging out world number two Rory McIlroy and defending champion Bryson DeChambeau. But Scheffler insists, "I don't pay attention to the favorite stuff or anything like that."
Still, the competition won't be a walk in the park. Fourth-ranked Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, warns that the rough off most missed fairways will be brutal, "Clubs will turn over. You're going to see guys trying to hit pitching wedge out and it's going to go 45 degrees left because that's how thick the rough is."
With a course spanning 7,372-yards and a par of 70, Oakmont offers a vast array of bunkers and an expansive layout, thanks to the removal of many trees. Described by two-time major winner Jon Rahm as an "Extreme challenge," the course promises a formidable test for even the most skilled of players.
McIlroy, fresh off completing a career Grand Slam with his recent Masters win, has top-10 US Open finishes each of the past six years. He forecasts, "It's going to be a great test."
Defending champion DeChambeau, who secured a win last month at LIV Golf Korea, is gunning for a third US Open, following his previous victories in 2020 and 2024. Achieving this would make DeChambeau the eighth back-to-back US Open winner, a feat not accomplished since Brooks Koepka in 2017 and 2018.
Legendary six-time major winner Phil Mickelson, who turns 55 on Monday, is also eyeing the pot, seeking an elusive title to complete a career Grand Slam.
"It's pretty much an all-around challenge," said 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose. "You have to put the ball in play off the tee. Fairways are somewhat generous, 30-odd yards wide. That's because it's all about the greens."
But the Killer Course, as Oakmont is affectionately known, requires more than sheer power. Strategic play and precision are essential, with the course demanding a careful approach to navigate its unique challenges of thick rough, penal bunkers, narrow fairways, and large putting surfaces. Those who can conquer Oakmont's trials will claim the U.S. Open title, and certainly, the golfing world will be riveted as the action unfolds.
© 2025 AFP
In the context of upcoming sports events, the United States is hosting the 2025 U.S. Open golf tournament, a challenging competition known as "The Killer Course" where Scottie Scheffler, a two-time Masters Champion and the current favorite, aims to showcase his golf skills against other prominent players like Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, and Bryson DeChambeau. Despite the stiff competition, Scheffler remains focused on his game rather than the label of being the favorite.
