Anticipated US Open Winning Score According to a Caddy Familiar with Oakmont's Greens More Than Most Others...
Preparing for the US Open, the infamous Oakmont Country Club is set to test the limits of golfers once more. Popularly known as one of the most challenging courses in the US Open rota, Oakmont's reputation precedes it.
The course's difficulty comes from a multitude of factors. For one, the rough is notorious for being up and the greens notorious for being quick. In 2025, Oakmont will host its 10th US Open, its first since 2016. In that competition, a mixed leaderboard saw Kevin Na finish a respectable seventh.
Ahead of the tournament, we talked to Kevin Na's former caddie, Kenny Harms, to learn more about one of his favorite courses. Harms had glowing praise for Oakmont, calling it "one of the top five golf courses in the world." He compared the course to Royal County Down, Royal Portrush, and Cypress Point.
"Oakmont's got everything," Harms said. "There's no water hazards, just little ditches that go down the side. You can't pretend around that golf course."
It's no secret that weather plays a significant role in the US Open. Prior to the tournament, rain at Oakmont means the rough will be juicier but greens will be somewhat slower. In 2016, rain throughout Thursday softened up the course, but Harms questioned some decisions made by the USGA on Tuesday morning.
"I have friends who are members there, so I play there a lot," explained Harms. "[...] [They] were perfect on Saturday. You wait until Tuesday or Wednesday. They'll soften it up."
In 2016, the golf course was perfect, challenging the players with greens around 16 on the Stimpmeter and rough up to five inches. However, the USGA chose to cut the rough down and watered the fairways and greens, causing Harms to doubt their plans.
Rain is predicted for this year's tournament. If the course gets softened, it could lead to five or six under scores being enough to win. Harms expressed his hope that the course plays hard and fast with the rough up, as five or six over may still be needed to take the title.
US Opens are known for their difficulty, with over-par scores often winning the coveted title. In 1974, Hale Irwin, who Harms used to caddie for, claimed his first of three US Opens with a seven-over-par score, earning the nickname "The Massacre at Winged Foot."
While the enrichment data doesn't provide specific comments from Kenny Harms, it does explain why Oakmont is considered one of the toughest golf courses globally. Some key factors that contribute to its difficulty include firm and narrow fairways, deep and penal bunkers, fast and undulating greens, challenging rough, and a course layout and length that add to the challenge. All of these elements make Oakmont Country Club a formidable test for even the best golfers.
Golf is one of the sports that will be challenged at the US Open, with Oakmont Country Club, known as one of the most difficult courses in the US Open rota, hosting the tournament again. Oakmont's reputation as one of the top five golf courses in the world is due to its unique characteristics, such as firm and narrow fairways, challenging rough, fast and undulating greens, and the absence of water hazards.
