Rory McIlroy offered a stark reminder of Oakmont’s brutal difficulty ahead of the 125th US Open. The reigning Masters champion played a practice round early last week and described the experience as “impossible,” carding an 81 despite finishing with two birdies. His comments highlight how demanding the course setup can be, particularly when greens run at lightning speed and pins are placed in treacherous locations. While conditions have eased slightly since then, the challenge remains immense.
McIlroy noted that success this week will hinge on precision and patience. “If you put it in the fairway, it’s playable,” he said, emphasizing the importance of keeping the ball below the hole and aiming for pars rather than chasing birdies. The rough, as always at Oakmont, is unforgiving. Even narrowly missing the fairway can lead to punch-out situations or lost balls. “Sometimes it’s penal even if you don’t miss,” he remarked, underlining the course’s relentless nature.
The difficulty of Oakmont may not suit McIlroy’s current form. He has been struggling with his driver, a key concern given the premium on accuracy off the tee. Those issues were evident at the Canadian Open, where he missed the cut. In response, McIlroy has made a change to his driver ahead of the tournament, hoping to find consistency at a venue where small mistakes carry big consequences.
Yet McIlroy’s bigger hurdle may be mental rather than technical. After completing the career grand slam at Augusta in April, the emotional release has left him searching for renewed motivation. He admitted it has been difficult to reset after reaching a goal he had chased for over a decade. “You dream about the final putt going in at the Masters, but you don’t think about what comes next,” he reflected. That lack of immediate purpose has made it harder to show up with intensity week in and week out.
McIlroy will begin his campaign at Oakmont alongside fellow Europeans Shane Lowry and Justin Rose, providing a familiar pairing that may help him settle into the event.
Meanwhile, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau enters the tournament with confidence and clarity. He described Oakmont as the “toughest golf course in the world” and stressed the importance of fairways, greens, and strong putting. DeChambeau, a central figure in LIV Golf, also spoke about his upcoming contract negotiations. With his deal set to expire in 2026, discussions are expected to begin later this year, and he expressed optimism about reaching a new agreement. Confident in LIV’s future, he views the tour’s team format as a viable and commercially promising model.
