The 125th US Open Championship teed off Thursday at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, and the legendary course wasted no time living up to its fearsome reputation. Only ten players managed to break par in the opening round, while some of the world’s top golfers were humbled by its punishing layout. From rare albatrosses to soul-crushing bogeys, the opening round offered a mix of brilliance, frustration, and sheer survival.
A bogey-free surprise: JJ Spaun tops the leaderboard
In a stunning turn of events, it was American JJ Spaun who rose above the chaos to shoot a bogey-free 4-under 66 — his first such round in a major. Despite having never played at Oakmont before, Spaun found calm amid the madness, approaching the course with the fresh eyes of a newcomer.
“I kind of came out here with no prior history at Oakmont, not really knowing what to expect, even US Open-wise,” Spaun said. “I tried to take what the course gave me. I hit a lot of good shots and scrambled really well — which is huge out here.”
Trailing him were South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence at 3-under and a cluster of players including Brooks Koepka, Si Woo Kim, and Sungjae Im at 2-under. But for most of the field, Oakmont played the role of tormentor rather than host.
Oakmont bites back: The carnage among golf’s elite
While Spaun quietly carved out a historic round, the rest of the leaderboard was riddled with high numbers and shattered confidence. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who had won three of his last four PGA Tour starts, looked visibly flustered and finished with a 3-over 73.
“Frustrating” seemed to be the word of the day for nearly every marquee name. Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Justin Rose all struggled with Oakmont’s signature long rough, brutal bunkers, and glassy greens. DeChambeau had warned earlier in the week: “This course doesn’t just challenge your game. It challenges your sanity.” By the end of Thursday, his words felt more like prophecy.
McIlroy’s round encapsulated the Oakmont experience. A booming 392-yard drive on the 12th hinted at dominance, but an early stumble into thick rough and a failed escape attempt led to a bogey save that felt like a win. He ended with a 4-over 74 — far from catastrophic, but a reminder that no player is immune from Oakmont’s punishment.
Brief brilliance meets brutal reality
Among the day’s more memorable moments came from young Ohio native Maxwell Moldovan, making his US Open debut fresh out of college. In only his second shot of the day, Moldovan holed out a blind 189-yard approach for an eagle that sent the crowd roaring.
“I couldn’t really see it,” he said. “I heard people start cheering and then I saw it go in and everybody’s hands go up.” But Oakmont doesn’t enjoy being embarrassed. Moldovan followed the eagle with back-to-back bogeys and eventually signed for a 6-over 76. It was a reminder that even moments of magic are fleeting here.
Shane Lowry, another victim of Oakmont’s roller-coaster terrain, summed up the experience with a scorecard as wild as his emotions. He became the first player to eagle the par-4 3rd hole — immediately after a double bogey. His final tally: a 9-over 79, five bogeys, three double bogeys, and a thrown microphone that disappeared into the rough.
From dentistry to disaster: A local favorite’s tough return
Perhaps the most endearing story of the day belonged to Dr. Matt Vogt, the Indiana dentist turned US Open qualifier who once caddied at Oakmont. Vogt, now 34, called himself a “math and science geek” and had walked away from college golf years ago. On Thursday, he lived his dream — and survived his nightmare.
Double bogeys on two of his first four holes set the tone. He would finish with a bruising 12-over 82. But for Vogt, perspective triumphed over frustration. “My goodness, honestly, I came in with such optimism for this golf course, but it is so hard,” he said. “At the moment, it feels like getting punched in the face… but ultimately, yeah, I’d say it was fun.” Vogt’s story may not feature on the leaderboard, but it epitomized the spirit of the US Open — where qualification alone is a victory, and perseverance is often the true triumph.
Albatross and awe: Patrick Reed’s historic highlight
While most players tried simply to keep their rounds from unraveling, LIV Golfer Patrick Reed delivered one of the rarest shots in major championship golf. After a 332-yard drive on the par-5 4th hole, Reed launched a 286-yard second shot that rolled straight into the hole — recording just the fourth albatross in US Open history.
Unaware of the feat at first, Reed was greeted with deafening cheers from the gallery. He smiled, shrugged, and calmly finished the round with a 3-over 73. “I didn’t even know it went in at first,” Reed said. “Just looked up and saw the crowd erupt.”
More pain to come: Oakmont isn’t done yet
If Thursday’s action is any indication, the 125th US Open is shaping up to be a war of attrition. With dry conditions expected to continue, Oakmont’s sloping greens are only going to get faster, and it’s rough and less forgiving.
The leaderboard remains wide open. With only a handful of players under par and golf’s biggest stars licking their wounds, every shot matters — and every hole has the potential to unravel a round. Spaun may be on top for now, but as history at Oakmont has shown time and again, no lead is safe when the course itself is the greatest opponent.
Next round begins: Friday morning
Current leader: JJ Spaun (-4)
Field average score: +3.8
Location: Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont, Pennsylvania
