
US Open '25: Decades ago under dark of night, Oakmont began removing trees and started a golf trend
Last month, Scottie Scheffler made mention of a trend in golf design that rubs him wrong — removing trees from courses.
This week, the world's best player and favorite to win the U.S. Open will play a course that did just that, but didn't become one bit easier the way some layouts do when the trees go away. Under the dark of night three decades ago, the people in charge of Oakmont Country Club started cutting down trees. They didn't stop until some 15,000 had been removed.
The project reimagined one of America's foremost golf cathedrals and started a trend of tree cutting that continues to this day.
While playing a round on YouTube with influencer Grant Horvat, Scheffler argued that modern pro golf — at least at most stops on the PGA Tour — has devolved into a monotonous cycle of 'bomb and gouge': Hit drive as far as possible, then gouge the ball out of the rough from a shorter distance if the tee shot is off line.
'They take out all the trees and they make the greens bigger and they typically make the fairways a little bigger, as well,' Scheffler said. 'And so, the only barrier to guys just trying to hit it as far as they want to or need to, it's trees.'
Scheffler and the rest in the 156-man field that tees off Thursday should be so lucky.
While the latest Oakmont renovation, in 2023, did make greens bigger, fairways are never wide at the U.S. Open and they won't be this week.
Tree-lined or not, Oakmont has a reputation as possibly the toughest of all the U.S. Open (or any American) courses, which helps explain why it is embarking on its record 10th time hosting it. In the two Opens held there since the tree-removal project was completed, the deep bunkers, serpentine drainage ditches and lightning-fast greens have produced winning scores of 5-over par (Angel Cabrera in 2007) and 4 under (Dustin Johnson in 2016).
In an ironic twist that eventually led to where we (and Oakmont) are today, the layout was completely lined with trees in 1973 when Johnny Miller shot 63 on Sunday to win the U.S. Open. That record stood for 50 years, and the USGA followed up with a course setup so tough in 1974 that it became known as 'The Massacre at Winged Foot' -- won by Hale Irwin with a score of 7-over par.
'Everybody was telling me it was my fault,' Miller said in a look back at the '74 Open with Golf Digest. 'It was like a backhanded compliment. The USGA denied it, but years later, it started leaking out that it was in response to what I did at Oakmont. Oakmont was supposed to be the hardest course in America.'
It might still be.
In a precursor to what could come this week, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott played practice rounds last Monday in which McIlroy said he made a 7 on the par-4 second and Scott said he hit every fairway on the front nine and still shot 3 over.
Nicklaus: Trees should only come down 'for a reason'
While Oakmont leaned into tree removal, there are others who aren't as enthused.
Jack Nicklaus, who added trees to the 13th hole at Muirfield Village after seeing players fly a fairway bunker on the left for a clear look at the green, said he's OK with tree removal 'if they take them down for a reason.'
'Why take a beautiful, gorgeous tree down?' he said. 'Like Oakmont, for example. What's the name of it? Oak. Mont. What's that mean? Oaks on a mountain, sort of. And then they take them all down. I don't like it.'
A lot of Oakmont's members weren't fans, either, which is why this project began under dark of night. The golf course in the 1990s was barely recognizable when set against pictures taken shortly after it opened in 1903.
Architect Henry Fownes had set out to build a links-style course. Dampening the noise and view of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which bisects the layout, was one reason thousands of trees were planted in the 1960s and '70s.
'We were finding that those little trees had all grown up and they were now hanging over some bunkers,' R. Banks-Smith, the chairman of Oakmont's grounds committee when the project began, said in a 2007 interview. 'And once you put a tree on either side of a bunker, you lose your bunker. So, you have to make a decision. Do you want bunkers or do you want trees?'
Oakmont went with bunkers – its renowned Church Pew Bunker between the third and fourth fairways might be the most famous in the world – and thus began a tree project that divides people as much today as it did when it started.
'I'm not always the biggest fan of mass tree removal,' Scott said. 'I feel a lot of courses that aren't links courses get framed nicely with trees, not like you're opening it up to go play way over there.'
Too many trees, though, can pose risks.
Overgrown tree roots and too much shade provide competition for the tender grasses beneath. They hog up oxygen and sunlight and make the turf hard to maintain. They overhang fairways and bunkers and turn some shots envisioned by course architects into something completely different.
They also can be downright dangerous. In 2023 during the second round of the Masters, strong winds toppled three towering pine trees on the 17th hole, luckily missing fans who were there watching the action.
'There are lots of benefits that trees provide, but only in the right place,' said John Fech, the certified arborist at University of Nebraska who consults with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
When Oakmont decided they didn't want them at all, many great courses followed. Winged Foot, Medinah, Baltusrol and Merion are among those that have undergone removal programs.
Five years ago, Bryson DeChambeau overpowered Winged Foot, which had removed about 300 trees, simply by hitting the ball as far as he could, then taking his chances from the rough.
It's the sort of golf Scheffler seems to be growing tired of: 'When you host a championship tournament, if there's no trees, you just hit it wherever you want, because if I miss a fairway by 10 yards, I'm in the thick rough (but) if I miss by 20, I'm in the crowd," Scheffler told Horvat.
AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson contributed.
___
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Multiple PGA Tour Golfers Are Late Additions to U.S. Open Days Before Major Starts
Multiple PGA Tour Golfers Are Late Additions to U.S. Open Days Before Major Starts originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The U.S. Open field of golfers has been solidified, barring any last-minute withdraws. Scottie Scheffler is once again a heavy favorite to win his second consecutive major of 2025 at +275, per DraftKings. Advertisement Rory McIlroy is a distant second at +850 after failing to make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open. A pair of LIV Golf stars are also among the favorites in Bryson DeChambeau at +900, while Jon Rahm is +1200 to round out the top four in the U.S. Open odds. The U.S. Open revealed on Monday that six golfers have been added to the field, headlined by Ryan Fox fresh off his RBC Canadian Open playoff win. Additionally, the following golfers are slated to compete in the major: Doug Ghim, Takumi Kanaya, Chase Johnson, Riki Kawamoto and Eric Cole. Ryan Fox hits on the 1st hold during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst No. David Mercer-Imagn Images Oakmont Country Club is expected to present a difficult challenge for even the best golfers. Fox reflected on turning his attention to competing in the major after securing a victory in Toronto. "I saw enough stuff on social media and talked to a couple guys who went earlier this week, and it sounds like it's going to be a proper beat up. It will be fun," Fox noted in a press conference on Sunday after winning the Canadian Open. Advertisement "I've heard it's a fantastic golf course. It's hard, the greens are tricky. They're going to be running scary fast. From what it looks like, the rough is straight hack out. It's going to be a little different than this week," Fox added. "... Probably going to take it easy on Monday and try to figure out Oakmont in two days and see what happens. It's nice to be in the field, that's for sure." Related: Ryan Fox's Epic Canadian Open Playoff Win Draws Strong Message From PGA Tour This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.


USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
Golf Betting Odds, Sites & Promo Codes for June 2025
Golf Betting Odds, Sites & Promo Codes for June 2025 Golf betting odds are a mainstay and among the most popular markets to wager on at sports betting apps. The appeal of golf online betting is the variety it offers, with so many tournaments, players and different types of golf betting lines to choose from. From weekly PGA odds to the major championships, there's a golf bet for everyone – and often, promo codes that can help you make that wager with bonus bets or a little added security. Read on to learn more about how to bet on golf, where you can find the best bets on golf and for some golf betting tips. Golf Odds Golf odds are conveyed in moneyline format, with the number after the plus sign showing how much you can win for each $100 wagered. However, a number with a minus sign indicates a heavy favorite and indicates how much you have to bet to win $100. But since golf tournaments are so difficult to win, you rarely find negative moneyline plays unless you're wagering on something like a head-to-head matchup or a top-10 finish. Best Golf Betting Promo Codes 📱 Sportsbook 🔥Sportsbook Promo Code 🎉 Offer BetMGM WIREBG150 / SBWIRE 🤑 Bet $10, Win $150 (CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV) / First-Bet Offer up to $1,500 Caesars Sportsbook SBWIREDYW 🤑 Bet $1, Get 10 100% Profit Boosts Fanatics Sportsbook Click Here 🤑 Bet $30, Get $300 (MI, NJ, PA) / Bet $50, Get $250 (AZ, CO, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, NC, OH, TN, VA, WV) / Up to $1000 in No Sweat Bets (all states but NY) / 100% Profit Boost Daily for 10 Days (NY) FanDuel Click Here 🤑 Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets if You Win DraftKings Click Here 🤑 Bet $5, Get $300 in bonus bets if You Win bet365 Click Here 🤑 Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets Golf Betting Sites Reviewed By Experts While there are many betting golf sites to choose from, finding the right one for PGA Tour betting doesn't have to be overwhelming. Our experts have done the work, identifying top golf betting sites based on criteria like the quality of golf odds, value of sportsbook promos, golf betting games and features such as consistent odds and profit boosts. And all the golf betting sites listed below are legal and licensed in the United States. BetMGM Golf A sports betting power that traces its roots back to the MGM Grand, BetMGM boasts a range of betting options unrivaled in the industry - which includes golf and betting on PGA Tour events. The choices for betting on golf can feel limitless, all of it bolstered by daily features like the 'Lion's Boost' odds enhancer. The flagship BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE provides a first-bet offer that pays back losing opening wagers with up to $1,500 in bonus bets. Top App Features Daily odds boosts Bet editing and early cash out Industry-best rewards program Caesars Sportsbook Golf Another sports betting brand name whose lineage goes back to the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars offers competitive golf odds that are posted and updated quickly. There are lots of live streaming and live betting options, and regular promos for existing users. The Caesars Sportsbook promo code SBWIREDYW gives bettors who make a qualifying wager of $1 or more 10 100% profit boosts. These boosts can be used on wagers up to $25 and with odds of -10000 or better. The maximum added profit per boost is $2,500. Top App Features Very competitive golf betting lines Regular boosts and promos Industry-best customer support Fanatics Sportsbook Golf The newest entry in the world of golf betting is Fanatics Sportsbook, an arm of the sportswear company. Depending on your location, the Fanatics Sportsbook promo lets bettors customize their welcome offer. In MI, NJ and PA, bettors can choose between a Bet $30, Get $300 in Bonus Bets offer or Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets deal. In AZ, CO, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, NC, OH, TN, VA and WV, bettors can choose between a Bet $50, Get $250 in Bonus Bets offer or Bet and Get up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets deal. In all states other than NY, you can score up to $1,000 in No Sweat Bets In NY, new bettors get a 100% profit boost daily for 10 days. Top App Features Personalized Daily Bonuses Odds Boosts You will earn FanCash each time you place a bet. FanDuel Golf A former daily fantasy site that evolved into a powerhouse sportsbook, FanDuel is known for its incredible response time and unparalleled iPhone integration, which make it easy to quickly place live golf odds and bets. The site also offers a wealth of competitive PGA Tour odds, along with low minimum bet requirements. The FanDuel promo code offers $200 in bonus bets with a successful initial wager of $5 or more – and that bet can be placed on any odds, even a huge favorite. Top App Features Excellent response time Low bet minimums Robust array of bet offerings DraftKings Golf Another former daily fantasy provider that's emerged as a sports betting juggernaut, DraftKings offers betting markets that cover an immense range of sporting events in the U.S. and beyond, as well as lots of live golf betting options. The DraftKings promo code provides new users with a $300 in bonus bets when they make a successful first bet of $5 or more. The bonus is paid as 12 $25 bet credits. Top App Features Great live betting options Range of ongoing boosts and promos Cash out option bet365 Golf Founded in Great Britain in 2000, bet365 pioneered features like live betting and same-game parlays now standard across the industry. bet365 today offers more features like cash out and early payout, as well a low minimum bet. The bet365 bonus code offers new users a Bet $5, Get $150 in bonus bets deal, win or lose. Top App Features Low bet minimums Cash out and early payout Wealth of odds on U.S. and Euro sports Golf Betting Apps Rated Golf Betting Apps Apple Rating Android Rating 📲 BetMGM 🌟 4.8 🌟 4.2 📲 Caesars Sportsbook 🌟 4.6 🌟 4.3 📲 Fanatics Sportsbook 🌟 4.7 🌟 4.2 📲 BetRivers 🌟 4.4 🌟 3.3 📲 bet365 🌟 4.7 🌟 4.5 📲 FanDuel 🌟 4.8 🌟 4.7 📲 DraftKings 🌟 4.9 🌟 4.6 📲 ESPN BET 🌟 4.8 🌟 4.3 Golf Betting Promotions Just as all golf courses boast different features, no two betting golf promo code offers are created alike. Let's take a look at the different types of promo offers and the perks they deliver, and how they can help enhance your experience betting on golf. Bet Credits Bet credits are what most welcome offers deliver: funds you can use to bet with, but are only valid at the sportsbook that dispensed them. They often require a minimum deposit or initial wager to unlock, and winning can be cashed out if you wager the bet credit amount a specified number of times - typically once. Bet credits also typically expire after a specific length of time, usually seven days. Deposit Match Bonuses Deposit match bonuses are just that: The sportsbook matches the amount of your initial deposit in bet credits, up to a certain amount. While you can only wager the matched amount at the sportsbook offering the promo, this still has the effect of doubling your initial betting bankroll. No Deposit Bonuses A 'no deposit bonus' deposits bet credits into your account just for signing up with a sportsbook. On your part, no initial minimum deposit or wager is required. Once again, the funds can only be wagered at the sportsbook which distributed them, unless they can be converted to cash by betting the amount a specific number of times. These types of bonuses are available through some North Carolina sportsbook promos now that the Tar Heel State offers online sports betting. Parlay Insurances Parlays, linking several bets together into one large wager, can be fun and lucrative, but they're also tough to win. A parlay insurance promo awards the user a bonus bet of a certain amount if their parlay loses. If the parlay wins? Then enjoy your winnings. Odds Boosts Odds boosts increase the odds of a certain wager, boosting potential winnings as well. Boosted odds typically appear on bets selected by the sportsbook, and can be available to both new and returning users. PGA Tour odds boosts can be lucrative: A boost of +200, for example, can add $200 to winnings for every $100 wagered. Look for boosted Masters odds on some players and betting markets in the lead-up to the opening round. Contest Offers Some online sportsbooks offer entry into contests or golf betting games that can have big payouts for the winner. One popular type is an survivor pool contest, in which contestants try to pick winners each week. Other contests invite entrants to pick a certain number of sports winners each day, or are connected to major events like The Masters. Golf Bets Available The great thing about learning how to bet on golf is that it allows a ton of ways to wager because of the number of players and tournaments. Let's take a look at some of the most popular golf bets you can make when betting on PGA Tour events - and most other tours as well. Moneyline PGA Tour fields can have 156 players, and nobody wins every week. So, PGA odds on even top players are usually favorable — odds of +1200 on McIlroy, for example, means you win $1,200 for every $100 wagered — and moneyline bets can still be very lucrative. You can also vary your moneyline bets by wagering on finishing position (top-10, for example), head-to-head, make or miss the cut and so much more. Parlays A parlay is when you combine several golf bets into one wager, increasing your potential winnings with each bet (and also increasing the risk). But there's a catch: if one bet loses, the entire parlay loses. You can combine almost anything: McIlroy to win, Scheffler to finish top-10, Adam Scott to finish as top Australian. The more wagers you add, the bigger your potential payday but also the tougher it is to win. Prop Bets Prop bets don't require a lot of golf knowledge and have little to do with the final outcome. But they can still be fun. Will Scheffler make a hole-in-one? Will McIlroy play in the final pairing on Sunday? Will there be a playoff? There are lots of golf prop bets, especially during major championships. Futures Futures allow golf bettors to wager on a tournament, weeks or months in advance. Golf futures provide more favorable odds than you'd get on eve of the event; think +1200 on Brooks Koepka to win the U.S. Open, as opposed to +600 on tournament week. The downside of betting far in advance, though, is that you risk an injury or other issues that could tank the chances of the player you've backed. Live Betting Live golf betting is wagering once a tournament has teed off and provided the opportunity to find more favorable PGA Tour betting odds than pre-tournament, which offer the potential of a larger return. How To Download Golf Betting Apps Hitting the perfect golf shot may be hard, but getting started in golf betting isn't. All the top golf betting sites have apps, so follow these simple steps to have the best golf bets at your fingertips after you have claimed your welcome offer. ✅ Visit the Apple or Android store, depending on your device ✅ Search for the golf betting app you're looking for ✅ Download the app to your mobile phone ✅ Register and opt into your promo code offer from the app ✅ Make your first golf bet! Sign Up to Bet on Golf Odds You're about to discover what many already know: That compared to most other sports, golf betting and PGA odds offer lots more action and many more opportunities to win. So, how do you find the best online golf betting sites to make the best wager for you? Sign up for one of the top golf betting apps recommended here, claim your welcome offer and enjoy the countless betting opportunities that betting on golf can provide. Golf Betting Odds FAQs How do golf odds work? Golf odds are conveyed in moneyline format, such as +1200, which means you'd earn $1,200 for every $100 wagered if the bet were to win. Virtually all golf bets – to win, top-10, make or miss the cut, head to head, even props like top player of a certain nationality – work this way. The higher the number, the more you can win, and opportunities for value are everywhere. What is the spread in golf betting? Spread golf betting is seen primarily in Europe and done mostly by experienced bettors trying to capitalize on any edge they can find. The spread is based on the number of shots by which the bookmaker thinks one player will beat another, and golf bettors buy on the spread or sell against it depending on how they think the player will perform. Can you bet on golf? Indeed, you can bet on golf if you're in one of the U.S. states that offers legal sports betting. More than half the country now has access to legal sports betting, and golf with its myriad of possibilities is a mainstay of golf betting sites everywhere. Where can I bet on golf? You can bet on golf at any of the trusted golf betting apps listed here, all of which are legal and licensed in the U.S. Download the betting app of your choice, look for the menu of sports, and click on 'golf' to bring up all the tournaments the sportsbook is accepting wagers on. What apps can I use to bet on golf? Any of the golf apps mentioned here are great options. They all offer a voluminous selection of golf events occurring both this week and the future, as well as live betting and other features. And they're also all legal to use in the U.S., which gives golf bettors peace of mind knowing their deposits are safe. What is the best golf betting site? Our reviewers rank BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook as two of the best golf betting sites, but all of the proven and trusted sportsbooks listed here feature competitive odds and great promo code offers for new users. Getting started is easy: Click to download the golf betting app of your choice, accept your welcome offer and begin making bets on popular golf events today.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Open 2025 odds, betting, lines: Scottie Scheffler is the biggest favorite in 16 years
The 2025 U.S. Open tees off Thursday at Oakmont Country Club in Plum, Pennsylvania, and Scottie Scheffler (+275 at BetMGM) is the overwhelming favorite to win. Scheffler has the shortest odds heading into a U.S. Open since Tiger Woods was a +175 favorite in 2009, according to Sports Odds History's database. Scheffler, the top-ranked player in the world, has won three of the last four tournaments he's played in, including the 2025 PGA Championship by five strokes over the field. Scheffler has been incredibly consistent as well, finishing in the top 11 in 10 of the 12 tournaments he's entered this season. Advertisement He's such a big favorite that BetMGM is even offering a proposition wager where bettors can take Scheffler (+275) or the entire field (-400) to win the tournament. Not surprisingly, Scheffler is the most-bet player by total wagers (17.8%) and total dollars wagered (31.3%) at BetMGM. Scheffler also represents the biggest liability for the sportsbook of any golfer. Bryson DeChambeau (+750) is the only other player with single-digit odds and has the second-most tickets (12.8%) and handle (16.7%), along with the second-biggest liability. Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy have the next-best odds at 12-1. McIlroy finally won his first Masters in April, but most recently missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open this past week. He is the third-biggest liability at BetMGM. Advertisement Xander Schauffele (22-1), Collin Morikawa (25-1) and Ludvig Aberg (25-1) are the only other players with odds better than 30-1. Jordan Spieth (50-1), Brooks Koepka (66-1), Dustin Johnson (125-1) and Phil Mickelson (250-1) are a few former major winners with longer odds.