US Open Champion From Oakmont Reveals Keys to Victory, Similarities

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
It has been a tough couple of years for Dustin Johnson since moving over the LIV Golf, but this week he gets to head back to a place that will bring back plenty of good memories.
The U.S. Open gets underway on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club, and nobody knows how to win at the Pennsylvania course better than Johnson. The last time Oakmont hosted the USGA's major back in 2016, the American came out on top with a score of 4-under par.
Johnson played his first practice round on the front nine on Monday, and he saw plenty of similarities between the conditions from his triumph to this week.
"They're really similar. It's soft, which makes the fairways a little bit easier to hit and the greens a little bit easier to hold, but it plays longer, so you have longer clubs in," Johnson said. "The conditions right now are similar. Hopefully it will be dry -- we won't get any more rain, and it will dry out a little bit by Thursday."
It rained earlier in the week at Oakmont, so there is a chance that a few dry days will allow the course to get a little bit firmer by the time the tournament starts.
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 09: Dustin Johnson of the United States plays a shot on the first hole during a practice round prior to the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 09,...
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 09: Dustin Johnson of the United States plays a shot on the first hole during a practice round prior to the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 09, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. More
Photo byMuch has been made of the difficulty of the course heading into this U.S. Open, specifically the rough. Staying in the fairway is going to be one of the keys to success this week, and that is something that Johnson did very well in 2016.
While that remains a requirement for a low score at Oakmont, the two-time major champion thinks the course may be even harder in 2025.
"I drove it really straight. I hit a lot of fairways. That was the only reason I shot that well (in 2016)," Johnson said. "I don't know, it seems like it's tougher this time around, but that's just maybe with the little bit of added length. It's going to make it a little more difficult. But yeah, somehow I figured out a way to get it under par.
"It was mostly the driving. Obviously even driving it in the fairway here, it's still really difficult, but I hit a lot of good drives and a lot of good iron shots."
Johnson has underachieved at the majors this season, missing the cut at both The Masters and the PGA Championship. However, he is starting to find some form on the LIV Tour.
Johnson has just three top 10 finishes this season, but two of those have come in his last three LIV starts. He shot 9-under par at LIV Virginia just before heading to Oakmont to finish T-10.
Maybe that will be enough momentum for Johnson to find his groove again at a place where he once stood atop the golf world.
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