Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler Call Oakmont The Hardest Golf Course In The World

Bryson DeChambeau arrived at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania this week to defend his U.S. Open title. 

The U.S. Open is widely regarded as the toughest test in golf, so it comes as no surprise that it’s being played at Oakmont for a record 10th time. The USGA has been committed to long, penalizing roughs in the U.S. Open but perhaps no course has been more challenging than Oakmont Country Club. In 2007, the winning score was 5-over par at Oakmont and featured the highest cumulative scoring average of any U.S. Open in the past 100 years.

During his press conference, he was asked about his reaction to the golf course and how it’s playing this week. The defending champion gave a surprising answer, telling reporters that Oakmont is the most difficult golf course in the world right now.

“I think everybody knows this is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now,” DeChambeau said. “You have to hit the fairways. You have to hit greens and you have to two-putt, worst-case scenario.” 

He also revealed what it is going to take to win the 2025 U.S. Open this week.

“It’s a great test of golf,” Dechambeau said. “I think the person that wins this week is going to hit a lot of fairways and make a lot of putts.”

Rory McIlroy Admits To Shooting 81 At Oakmont During Practice Round

2025 Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who recently completed the career grand slam, admitted that he shot 81 during a practice round at Oakmont last week.

Oakmont hasn’t been friendly to McIlroy in the past. He missed the cut in 2016, the last time the tournament was played there.

“I don’t really remember much about 2016. I think I just tried to erase it from the memory bank,” McIlroy confessed.

“It’s still a big, brute of a golf course and you’re going to have to have your wits about you this week.” McIlroy said. “I think everyone knows what to expect, it’s Oakmont, it’s going to be a great test.”

Though McIlroy expects the course to be more friendly than his practice round, he still wasn’t shy about revealing his score when scouting the course last week.

“I played last Monday, Last Monday felt impossible, I birdied the last two holes for an 81.”

Scheffler Calls Oakmont The Hardest Course, Maybe Ever

Even world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler didn’t mince his words when talking about the degree of difficulty at Oakmont. 

“This is probably the hardest golf course that we’ll play, maybe ever,” Scheffler said.

“Here, when you hit the ball over the green, you just get in some heavy rough, and it’s like, let me see how I can pop the ball out of this rough and somehow give myself a look.”