The 125th US Open Championship teed off with sunlit skies and sky-high expectations at Oakmont Country Club—but the venerable Pennsylvania course wasted no time humbling the field. With treacherous greens, thick rough, and pin placements bordering on sadistic, even the top-ranked players were left questioning their sanity. Just 10 golfers managed to finish under par, proving once again why Oakmont is as feared as it is revered.
A beast awakens at Oakmont
In the lead-up to the tournament, Oakmont Country Club was portrayed as a brutal, unforgiving test. And by Thursday evening, it had fully lived up to its reputation. The opening round saw just ten players finish in red figures, with American JJ Spaun leading the way thanks to a flawless 4-under 66—his first bogey-free round ever in a major.
Spaun, playing only his second US Open and his first round ever at Oakmont, credited his unfamiliarity with the course for his success. “I kind of came out here with no prior history at Oakmont, not really knowing what to expect even US Open-wise,” he said. “I just tried to kind of take what the course gave me… scrambled really well, which is a huge component to playing well at a US Open.”
Close behind Spaun were South African Thriston Lawrence at 3-under and a group that included Brooks Koepka, Si Woo Kim, and Sungjae Im at 2-under. But the rest of the leaderboard bore the marks of a massacre, with many of the game’s elite struggling to keep up with Oakmont’s challenges.
A championship built to break spirits
The US Open is annually billed as golf’s toughest test—but Oakmont has a legacy of turning that challenge into torment. Designed to reward precision and punish anything less, the course was unrelenting on Thursday. The rough measured over five inches deep, the notorious “Church Pews” bunker swallowed balls like quicksand, and the lightning-fast greens made even short putts a gamble.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who entered the week in dominant form with wins in three of his last four PGA Tour events, found no rhythm. He carded a 3-over 73 and looked visibly frustrated as the course slowly chipped away at his confidence.
Even players with US Open victories under their belts weren’t spared. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau had warned earlier in the week: “This course doesn’t just challenge your game. It challenges your sanity.” After just one round, that sentiment echoed throughout the field.
The thrill of early glory—and the agony that followed
While many players were simply trying to survive, a few managed to momentarily shine. Maxwell Moldovan, a recent Ohio State graduate playing in his first US Open, authored one of the day’s most electric moments on just his second hole. From 189 yards out, he struck a blind approach shot that rolled straight into the cup for an eagle.
“I couldn’t really see it,” he said. “But I heard people start cheering and then I saw it go in. That was pretty cool.” Unfortunately for Moldovan, Oakmont quickly reminded him who was in charge. He bogeyed the next two holes and never regained momentum, finishing with a 6-over 76.
Similarly, Shane Lowry’s round was a study in contrasts. After a double bogey at the second hole, he bounced back with an eagle on the par-4 third—becoming the first player to do so. But from there, the highs vanished. He totaled five bogeys and two more doubles for a 9-over 79. At one point, a clearly exasperated Lowry tossed a broadcast microphone into the rough in frustration.
A local favorite faces the grind
Among the most heartwarming yet humbling stories of the day belonged to Dr. Matt Vogt—a full-time dentist, former Oakmont caddie, and local legend. Known affectionately as “Doc” to his patients back in Indiana, Vogt had earned a spot in the US Open field with a dream qualifying run.
Playing in front of friends and family, Vogt was visibly emotional before teeing off. But reality hit quickly. He opened with two double bogeys in his first four holes and never recovered, finishing with a grueling 12-over 82.
“My goodness,” Vogt said afterward, shaking his head. “I came in with such optimism for this golf course, but it is so hard. So, so hard. In the moment, it feels like you get punched in the face. But yeah—ultimately, I’d still say it was fun.”
A rare feat amid the carnage
For every broken spirit, Oakmont occasionally offers brilliance—though it’s often fleeting. Patrick Reed provided one of the most unforgettable highlights of the day when he recorded just the fourth albatross in US Open history on the par-5 fourth hole.
After a 332-yard drive, Reed launched a second shot from 286 yards that tracked like a guided missile. It landed on the green, took two bounces, and disappeared into the hole. The crowd erupted. Reed, unaware at first of the rarity of the achievement, cracked a wide grin when informed. He’d go on to shoot a 3-over 73, but the moment belonged to him.
More torment awaits
If Thursday’s round was any indication, the 125th US Open is poised to be a grind from start to finish. Oakmont has already proven it’s a venue where bogeys feel like victories, and sanity is a precious resource. With weather expected to remain dry and fast, scoring conditions won’t get easier—and for most players, simply making the cut will be a test of physical and mental endurance.
JJ Spaun may have escaped unscathed on Day 1, but as Oakmont has taught countless others over the decades, even the hottest hands can go cold in an instant. For now, he sits atop the leaderboard, but in a championship known for chaos, there are no guarantees—only scars, stories, and the hope that somehow, on one of golf’s cruelest stages, greatness might emerge.
