Oakmont Delivers Pain and Drama as 125th US Open Opens in Brutal Fashion
US Open 2025 Oakmont kicked off at the punishing Oakmont Country Club, where Round 1 proved this year’s tournament will be a battle for survival—not dominance.
Only 10 players managed to break par. JJ Spaun stunned the field with a bogey-free 66, his best performance ever in a major and his first time playing Oakmont.
“I just tried to kind of take what the course gave me,” Spaun said, leading the PGA Tour leaderboard early.
Chasing him were Thriston Lawrence (-3), Si Woo Kim (-2), Sungjae Im (-2), and Brooks Koepka (-2).
Stars Struggle as Oakmont Lives Up to Its Reputation
The world’s top-ranked players had a rough outing. Scottie Scheffler, despite his recent hot streak on the PGA Tour, carded a 3-over 73, leaving him seven shots back.
“This course doesn’t just challenge your game. It challenges your sanity,” warned defending champion Bryson DeChambeau.
Rory McIlroy hit a 392-yard bomb on the 12th hole but bogeyed the 4th after barely advancing from brutal rough. He closed with a 4-over 74.
Justin Rose, Bryson DeChambeau, and Gary Woodland also fought through Oakmont’s signature hazards — deep rough, lightning-fast greens, and the infamous “Church Pews” bunker.
First-Time Spark: Moldovan and Vogt Make Headlines
Amateur Maxwell Moldovan opened with an eagle, holing a blind 189-yard approach, but followed with two bogeys and finished with a 6-over 76.
Perhaps the most heartwarming story of the day was Dr. Matt Vogt, a local dentist and former Oakmont caddie. Though he shot 10-over 82, Vogt was all smiles:
“You feel like you got punched in the face, but ultimately… it was fun.”
Patrick Reed’s Albatross Lights Up the Course
Despite his 3-over finish, LIV golfer Patrick Reed delivered a rare feat. On the par-5 4th, he hit a 286-yard second shot that rolled in for only the fourth albatross in US Open history.
Current US Open Scores and Leaderboard Highlights
- JJ Spaun: -4 (66)
- Thriston Lawrence: -3
- Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, Brooks Koepka: -2
- Jon Rahm, Ben Griffin, Thomas Detry: -1
View full US Open scores live and PGA leaderboard updates on the official PGA Tour leaderboard page.
What to Watch Next:
Scottie Scheffler tee time for Round 2 is scheduled early Friday, as he looks to recover and avoid missing the cut. Keep an eye on Sungjae Im and Kim Si Woo, who are both in the hunt.
Source: CNN