Key Holes to Watch at Oakmont During the U.S. Open
By: Patrick Stephenson
Oakmont Country Club, home of the 2025 U.S. Open
Nestled just outside Pittsburgh, Oakmont Country Club will host its record-breaking tenth U.S. Open from June 12–15, 2025, showcasing golf’s most brutal challenge. With only two par‑5s across a punishing 7,342‑yard, par‑70 layout, Oakmont is infamous for its lightning‑fast greens, five‑inch rough, and 175 bunkers—starting with a 488‑yard opener that demands surgical precision. The field is stacked: Bryson DeChambeau defends the title, while heavyweights like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy arrive battle‑ready. In your article, we’ll explore the key holes where the championship will be won or lost.
Oakmont: The Toughest Test in Championship Golf
Oakmont Country Club is, quite simply, the toughest test in championship golf. It doesn’t rely on gimmicks or manufactured drama—its difficulty is baked into every contour, bunker edge, and blade of grass. At just over 7,340 yards and playing to a par 70, Oakmont offers no let-up from the first tee to the 18th green.
What Sets Oakmont Apart
Greens that demand absolute precision: Oakmont’s putting surfaces are among the firmest and fastest in the world. Subtle breaks and punishing slopes turn even short putts into nerve-wracking tests. There’s no room for indecision here—balls that miss the ideal quadrant often race away, turning birdie chances into bogey saves.
Rough engineered to punish: One of Oakmont’s most overlooked defenses is its unique maintenance. A specialized mower trims the rough vertically, causing each blade to stand upright. This subtle detail makes a profound impact—balls don’t nestle, they vanish. Even moderate rough can eliminate any chance of controlling spin or trajectory.
Bunkers with real teeth: With 175 sand traps—many steep-faced and deeply cut—Oakmont treats bunkers not as hazards, but as penalties. The famed Church Pew bunker complex is just one example of how a single misplaced shot can lead to a full-stroke setback.
No free passes: With only two par‑5s and a series of demanding par‑4s, Oakmont doesn’t hand out red numbers. Players must earn every birdie with precision, strategy, and mental discipline. There’s no “easy stretch” to build momentum—just wave after wave of challenging holes.
Oakmont doesn’t just test a player’s swing—it tests their patience, their planning, and their ability to stay composed under pressure. In the sections ahead, we’ll break down the key holes where this course exerts its full influence on the U.S. Open leaderboard.
Key Holes to Watch During this Week’s US Open
Oakmont’s reputation is built not on one signature hole, but on a relentless string of punishing tests. Still, a handful of holes stand out for their ability to shape momentum, swing scores, and break hearts. These six holes represent the most consequential stretches at the 2025 U.S. Open.
Hole 1 – Par 4, 488 Yards
Oakmont doesn’t ease players into the round—it throws them straight into the fire. The first hole is arguably the most difficult opener in major championship golf. A long, slight dogleg left, it requires a laser-precise tee shot to avoid thick rough on both sides. The green sits at the bottom of a steep hill and runs away from players, making it extremely difficult to know where to land your second.
In 2016, this hole played to a 4.45 average—harder than any other on the course. If players can walk off with par, they’ve already gained on the field.
Hole 3 – Par 4, 462 Yards (Church Pew Bunker)
This is one of Oakmont’s most iconic and visually intimidating holes, thanks to the infamous Church Pew bunker. Stretching nearly 100 yards and flanked by 12 grass-capped ridges, this hazard swallows errant drives and demands a disciplined tee shot down the right.
Even from the fairway, the uphill approach into a firm green that runs away behind can be brutal. This hole played to a 4.32 average in 2016, tying for sixth hardest—proof that its teeth go far beyond the aesthetics.
Hole 8 – Par 3, ~290 Yards
This behemoth of a par 3 is the longest in U.S. Open history. While listed at 289 yards in 2016, it could play even longer depending on the tee setup and hole location.
What makes No. 8 so punishing isn’t just the length, but the hazards. A deep Sahara bunker guards the front, and anything short or right is dead. Players often face the green with a fairway wood in hand, and even if they find the surface, putting from the wrong tier can be a three-putt waiting to happen.
In 2016, only about a third of the field hit this green in regulation.
Hole 10 – Par 4, 461 Yards
The 10th begins the back nine with a shot of adrenaline. A downhill tee shot must navigate a narrow fairway pinched by a bisecting ditch and framed by deep bunkers. Many players will lay back to avoid the trouble, leaving a long iron into a sloping green that repels shots short and long.
In 2016, it ranked as the fourth most difficult hole, playing to an average of 4.33. There’s no margin for error here—just precision golf, executed under pressure.
Hole 15 – Par 4, 507 Yards (“Piano Keys”)
At over 500 yards, No. 15 is Oakmont’s longest par 4 and arguably its most grueling. The tee shot is blind and uphill, aimed toward a tilted fairway that feeds into a maze of bunkers. The left side of the green is guarded by a serrated bunker complex often referred to as the “Piano Keys,” with mounding and traps that demand a high, soft landing to hold the putting surface.
It played as the third hardest hole in 2016, averaging 4.39, and can derail a solid round in a heartbeat.
Hole 17 – Par 4, 312 Yards (Risk-Reward Drama)
The shortest par 4 on the course offers one of the few true scoring chances, but it’s far from a pushover. Many will go for the green, but a ridge in the fairway and deep front bunkers make laying up a valid strategy. The elevated green is narrow and firm, meaning even wedge approaches can spin off.
In 2016, it yielded the most birdies of any hole, but also a fair number of bogeys from players who got greedy. Expect fireworks here, especially late on Sunday.
Together, these six holes form the spine of Oakmont’s identity—strategic, punishing, and thoroughly unrelenting. From the opening blow to the penultimate birdie chance, these are the holes where the 2025 U.S. Open will be decided.
Where Championships Are Won and Lost
At Oakmont, nothing comes easy—and nothing is given. Every yard is earned through precision, patience, and discipline. The course doesn’t rely on a single “signature” hole to define it. Instead, it presents a relentless series of examinations that reward only the most complete golfers.
The six holes highlighted here—ranging from the brutal opening par-4 to the volatile, drivable 17th—each serve as pressure points. They challenge different aspects of a player’s game: accuracy off the tee, distance control into firm greens, short-game creativity, and above all, mental resilience.
In a U.S. Open where even par could contend, success won’t be about highlight-reel shots. It will be about navigating moments of chaos with control, picking safe lines in risky situations, and surviving Oakmont’s gauntlet with minimal damage. These key holes will tell the story—of heartbreak, of brilliance, and of who holds the trophy when Sunday evening arrives.
