At Oakmont Country Club, brilliance is optional—survival is not. As the final round of the 125th U.S. Open begins, golf’s greatest face not just a course, but a crucible. Moving Day exposed the truth: Oakmont doesn’t simply test technique; it tests belief. By Saturday evening, only four players remained under par. Sam Burns led alone, but Oakmont rarely lets leaders coast to glory.

The course's reputation precedes it. Greens running at 15.2 on the Stimpmeter have reduced the field to whispers and prayer. Fairways barely 24 yards wide demand perfect tee shots. Miss by inches and you're in rough so dense it’s been likened to tangled wire. Jordan Spieth's four-putt triple bogey on 11 was no anomaly—it was Oakmont.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, overwhelmed by the demands, missed the cut at +10. Rory McIlroy survived it, but barely—and declared he “didn’t really care,” revealing just how draining Oakmont’s toll can be. The leaderboard doesn’t just reflect skill; it reflects who is still standing.

Sam Burns shot a controlled 69 on Saturday to sit at –4, built on discipline, sharp iron play, and world-class scrambling. But his history on Hole 10—played at +3 this week—could haunt him. “If he’s even through five,” said one analyst, “he’s in command.” Oakmont, however, rarely allows command to last long.

Adam Scott trails by one at –3. His 67 was the round of the day—elegant, intelligent, and unflappable. The 44-year-old knows what it takes to win a major. At Oakmont, wisdom is power. If his putter holds, and if he survives the “Corridor of Collapse” from holes 13 to 17, he could lift a second major trophy.

J.J. Spaun joins Scott at –3. A consistent 69 kept him quietly in the mix. Calm, compact, and unaffected by the occasion, Spaun is the tournament’s underdog threat. If the final group stumbles, Spaun could slip into history.

Viktor Hovland, at –1, remains dangerous. His bogey-free 70 on Saturday showed control, but he’ll need a low number today—perhaps a front-nine 32—to contend. His putter, lukewarm so far, will need to ignite.

Further back, Tyrrell Hatton, Carlos Ortiz, and Robert MacIntyre hover at even par or +1. Under normal conditions, they’d be too far back. But this is Oakmont. One fearless 65 could turn the leaderboard on its head.

Key battlegrounds are clear. The par-4 10th—tight, elevated, and brutal—could undo any momentum. The 17th, a 231-yard par-3, features a terrifying pin position just four paces from a back-right drop-off. And the 18th, with its pin tucked on a back tier behind a ridge, may decide the tournament with a single putt. Miss short and the ball rolls off. Miss long, and par is a fantasy.

But the physical demands are only half the story. Oakmont is a psychological war. Every breath, every blink, every crack in rhythm matters. This final round isn’t just another Sunday—it’s Oakmont Sunday, where expectation meets fear, and legacy awaits.

Conquering this championship is not just about beating the field—it’s about beating Oakmont. And in doing so, conquering something even deeper: yourself.

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The 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club delivered what it promised: a relentless examination of every aspect of a golfer’s game. As Round 2 concluded on Friday, June 13, 2025, Oakmont once again confirmed its standing as America’s most punishing championship venue. Known for its rich history and raw difficulty, the course provided a perfect stage for high drama, heroic resilience, and complete unraveling.

Sam Burns emerged as the unlikely hero of the day, firing a flawless 65 (-5) — not just the round of the tournament, but one of the best ever seen in a U.S. Open at Oakmont. His blend of precision, tempo, and nerveless putting was a masterclass in modern tournament golf. With surgical ball-striking and a composed demeanor, Burns vaulted to the top of the leaderboard, reminding everyone that birdies are possible — just rarely rewarded.

His ascension stood in stark contrast to the unraveling of marquee players. Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, never found rhythm. Erratic driving and tentative putting led to a +10 total and a missed cut. Justin Thomas struggled to a 78, including a four-putt meltdown on the 12th, finishing at +12. Even Rory McIlroy, though he made the cut at +6, couldn’t escape the chaos: his emotional outbursts — broken tee marker, tossed club — became symbolic of Oakmont’s psychological warfare.

And then came Victor Perez, the Frenchman who delivered a jolt of electricity to the day by holing out with a 7-iron on the par-3 6th — the first ace in a U.S. Open at Oakmont since 1983. It was a reminder that in the shadows of torment, brilliance still flickers.

What makes Oakmont so merciless?

First, the greens. Lightning-fast and crowned, they regularly register above 15 on the Stimpmeter. Subtle breaks morph into triple reads. Even inside five feet, putts feel like puzzles. The 1st green alone is notorious — a sloping terror where scoring dreams go to die. Only players with elite touch and ice in their veins survive.

Then, the fairways: narrow, fast-running, and demanding perfect angles. Any deviation ends up in rough so dense it feels more penal than sand. Add in firm, sloping landing areas, and even well-placed shots bring risk.

Oakmont’s architecture also plays tricks on the mind. The Pennsylvania Turnpike literally divides the course: seven holes lie on one side of the highway, eleven on the other. That split introduces changing wind exposures and microclimates — requiring constant recalibration.

Particular holes stand out. The 3rd, a long par-3, requires a towering shot to a firm green. The 17th, a short par-4, tempts with eagle but punishes with double. In a major defined by margins, these holes will likely shape the final outcome.

As we turn to Moving Day, Burns holds the narrative. His game appears polished, purposeful — swing compact, putting dialed, confidence radiating. But the pack is hungry. Hovland, Koepka, Rahm, and Scheffler all lurk. Oakmont does not allow passengers; it exposes weakness and demands bravery.

With a volatile weather forecast — warm, humid, and thunderstorms looming — players will need more than skill. They'll need composure, resilience, and a full understanding of what this course demands.

Oakmont doesn’t simply crown a champion. It selects a survivor.

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Oakmont didn’t wait long to show its teeth. On Thursday, at the start of the 125th U.S. Open, the course once again confirmed its status as golf’s greatest test. Brutally fast greens – rolling at over 15 on the Stimpmeter – and an unforgiving layout turned even the world’s best into survivors.

J.J. Spaun – Calm in the ChaosWhile the field battled for balance, J.J. Spaun found his rhythm early and never let go. With a flawless, bogey-free 66 (-4), he took the solo lead, navigating Oakmont’s fierce greens with exceptional touch. Where others collapsed on the back nine, Spaun delivered a masterclass in patience, position, and poise.

Chasing the LeaderJust behind Spaun: Thriston Lawrence (-3), showing once again that major pressure doesn’t faze him. Brooks Koepka (-2), Jon Rahm (-1), and Si Woo Kim (-1) all stayed within striking distance, thanks to smart shot selection and the discipline to avoid Oakmont’s cruelest traps. One theme was clear: aggressive golf was punished, while those who respected the course were rewarded.

Big Names Under FireScottie Scheffler (+3) struggled with speed and feel on the greens, missing three putts inside six feet. His ball-striking was sharp—but Oakmont exposed every putting flaw.
Rory McIlroy (+4), fresh off a Masters triumph, looked strong early but unraveled late. A tangle with the "Church Pews" bunker and four bogeys in his last six holes left him scrambling to make the cut.
Bryson DeChambeau (+3) endured both physical and mental tests. A sprinkler-head relief controversy on hole 4 led to a lengthy rules discussion—an unwelcome distraction in already punishing conditions.

When the Game Turns WildShane Lowry delivered the shot of the day with an eagle hole-out on the par-4 3rd—then self-destructed with missed putts and errors. Reports vary, but he finished at either +7 or +9. In frustration, he smashed a mic on 16. A moment of raw emotion that summed up Day One’s chaos.
Patrick Reed stunned the field with a rare double eagle on hole 4, the first albatross at a U.S. Open since 2014. And amateur Maxwell Moldovan etched his name in history by becoming the first player to eagle Oakmont’s opening hole.

Today: The Day That Decides EverythingFriday is Cut Day. The top 60 and ties will survive to the weekend. Many stars hover around the cutline—and the pressure is mounting.

Key afternoon pairings (CEST):

• 17:52 – Spaun, Kim, Pendrith
• 18:14 – Rahm, Koepka, Lowry
• 18:47 – Scheffler, Fowler, Scott
• 19:09 – McIlroy, Åberg, Schauffele

Course Conditions – Only TougherWith forecast temps of 28–29°C (83–85°F), the afternoon sun will firm up the greens even more. Players teeing off early may catch a break. By sunset, Oakmont will once again separate contenders from pretenders.

Final ThoughtOakmont doesn’t care about name or number. It demands control, clarity, and character. Day One delivered a brutal reminder: only those who embrace the grind will remain.

And Day Two? That’s where the real tournament begins.

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