11 Investigates gets a behind the scenes look at U.S. Open at Oakmont security measures
With more than 200,000 visitors expected to attend the US Open at Oakmont Country Club, the USGA told Chief Investigator Rick Earle that the safety and security of fans and golfers is a top concern.
Earle recently visited Oakmont to meet with a representative from the USGA to talk about security measures.
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As workers were putting the finishing touches on the fairways and buildings around the golf course, the USGA was fine-tuning the security plan.
'For us, the thing that's first in paramount importance is the safety, the security and the health of anyone coming to the championship over the course of those seven days,' said Eric Steimer, the USGA Senior Director for US Open Championships.
For months now, the USGA has been working with local and state law enforcement on a detailed security plan.
'So, we're good at operating golf championships, but we know our role in security. We really turn to our law enforcement partners to make sure that our plans are buttoned up, leaning into their expertise and what their recommendations are,' Steimer said.
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Plum Borough Police Department is the lead agency, but they'll get help from other local departments, including Oakmont, Allegheny County and Pennsylvania State Police.
'You may have resources brought in from the county, whether it's the command post, mobile command post area,' said John Hudson, a retired Secret Service agent and security consultant.
Hudson helped with security during the last US Open by operating drones for the District Attorney's office.
The USGA said a 360-degree perimeter will be set up around the sprawling 380-acre course that is enclosed by a fence.
Earle: Because it's such a big layout, is it harder to secure?
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Hudson: No, it's actually easier to secure because they have a physical boundary around there with the fence and the limited access points.
Police officers, some working undercover, will be stationed inside and outside the course.
Fans must go through a metal detector system that the USGA began using a couple of years ago that allows more people in at one time.
'Ultimately, that magnetometer is going to pick up on any items that it hits on that will require potentially a second security measure, whether it's a hand wand or a divest situation where ultimately once that item is rendered safe, you'll be allowed to bring it in,' Steimer said.
Advertisement
Surveillance cameras and drones will also be used this year.
'So we'll have eyes in the sky, so to speak, which allows us to really be able to respond to any incidents, whether it's a security issue, whether it is a health issue, but really it takes a small army of security out here to make sure that everything is going smoothly and that's not something we're going to skimp on,' Steimer said.
In addition to local and state law enforcement officers, the USGA told Earle they will have nearly 300 private security guards to help out as well.
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Amid intrigue about the carnage that Oakmont Country Club's near-impenetrable rough and notoriously fearsome greens might dish out to the game's top players at the U.S. Open, Scottie Scheffler enters the golf season's third major championship as a heavy favorite after wins in three of his past four starts, including a four-shot win at last month's PGA Championship. The world's No. 1-ranked golfer, Scheffler heads a field of 156 players teeing it up this week just outside Pittsburgh at the nation's first golf course to be recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Oakmont originally opened in 1903, designed by Henry Fownes on farmland he acquired adjacent to the Allegheny River Valley, and is one of the game's most challenging and uncompromising layouts. Pennsylvania-based golf architect Gil Hanse, who completed a restoration of the course in October 2023, describes Oakmont as 'unapologetically difficult.' 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The 125th playing of the national championship is scheduled for June 12-15 and can be watched via a mix of broadcast television and streaming services, with extensive coverage spread across multiple networks throughout all four days of the tournament. The championship will receive more than 45 hours of live coverage on NBC, USA Network and Peacock. Beginning Monday, June 9, Golf Channel will surround the championship with live pre- and post-game coverage on Golf Central Live From the U.S. Open. With featured groups, featured holes, U.S. Open All Access and additional coverage, the total will reach nearly 300 hours. Scheffler, coming off his $4 million win two weeks ago at the Memorial Tournament, is listed as the 11-4 favorite to win the U.S. Open by the Las Vegas Westgate Superbook. The best previous finish at a U.S. Open for the three-time major winner was a tie for second at the 2022 tournament at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he finished one shot behind Matt Fitzpatrick. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, who also won the U.S. Open in 2020 at Winged Foot in New York before his victory at Pinehurst last year, is the second favorite with 15-2 odds. DeChambeau and fellow former champions Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Johnson are among 14 LIV Golf players in this year's 156-golfer field. Rory McIlroy, aiming to join Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth as just the third golfer in the past five decades to win the Masters and the U.S. Open in the same year, has 12-1 odds of winning. Phil Mickelson, who turns 55 on June 16 (a day after the championship's final round) has the most experience of any player in the field, making his 35th U.S. Open appearance. Adam Scott (24) and Justin Rose (20) are the only other golfers who have played in the U.S. Open at least 20 times. There are 44 players in the 2025 championship field who are playing in their first U.S. Open. Among them is Ben Griffin, who tied for eighth in this year's PGA Championship and has won twice on the PGA Tour in 2025. The starting field of 156 golfers will be cut after 36 holes to the low 60 scorers and ties. Hanse said the 32 players in the field who also tackled the course at the 2016 U.S. Open will likely notice the expansion of Oakmont's vaunted greens as the biggest change. 'There's going to be a lot of new hole locations,' said Hanse, who has had a hand in restoration and renovation projects at many of the game's most celebrated venues, including recent U.S. Open sites Winged Foot, The Country Club at Brookline, Los Angeles Country Club, and future venues such as Baltusrol, Merion, and Oakland Hills. 'The edges of the greens now are more like tabletops as opposed to having build-up along the edges. I think they are going to feel a little bit more difficult to hit into. We've managed to find a little bit more length (approximately 250 yards), so I think they're going to feel that as well.' The fairways at Oakmont aren't particularly wide – 28 yards on average – and the landing zones are often fiercely protected by challenging bunkers like the club's famous 'church pews.' Even more unforgiving, however, is the 4 inch to 5 inch-deep rough that's been grown and cut repeatedly to have it stand up straighter and thicker – to the point where hand mowers are needed to manage the height. 'It just puts an emphasis on hitting the fairway and hitting greens. If you're a premier ball striker, you'll be licking your chops,' said world No. 3 Xander Schauffele, who hasn't finished outside the Top 15 in his eight career U.S. Open starts. 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With more than 200,000 visitors expected to attend the US Open at Oakmont Country Club, the USGA told Chief Investigator Rick Earle that the safety and security of fans and golfers is a top concern. Earle recently visited Oakmont to meet with a representative from the USGA to talk about security measures. Advertisement As workers were putting the finishing touches on the fairways and buildings around the golf course, the USGA was fine-tuning the security plan. 'For us, the thing that's first in paramount importance is the safety, the security and the health of anyone coming to the championship over the course of those seven days,' said Eric Steimer, the USGA Senior Director for US Open Championships. For months now, the USGA has been working with local and state law enforcement on a detailed security plan. 'So, we're good at operating golf championships, but we know our role in security. We really turn to our law enforcement partners to make sure that our plans are buttoned up, leaning into their expertise and what their recommendations are,' Steimer said. Advertisement Plum Borough Police Department is the lead agency, but they'll get help from other local departments, including Oakmont, Allegheny County and Pennsylvania State Police. 'You may have resources brought in from the county, whether it's the command post, mobile command post area,' said John Hudson, a retired Secret Service agent and security consultant. Hudson helped with security during the last US Open by operating drones for the District Attorney's office. The USGA said a 360-degree perimeter will be set up around the sprawling 380-acre course that is enclosed by a fence. Earle: Because it's such a big layout, is it harder to secure? Advertisement Hudson: No, it's actually easier to secure because they have a physical boundary around there with the fence and the limited access points. Police officers, some working undercover, will be stationed inside and outside the course. Fans must go through a metal detector system that the USGA began using a couple of years ago that allows more people in at one time. 'Ultimately, that magnetometer is going to pick up on any items that it hits on that will require potentially a second security measure, whether it's a hand wand or a divest situation where ultimately once that item is rendered safe, you'll be allowed to bring it in,' Steimer said. Advertisement Surveillance cameras and drones will also be used this year. 'So we'll have eyes in the sky, so to speak, which allows us to really be able to respond to any incidents, whether it's a security issue, whether it is a health issue, but really it takes a small army of security out here to make sure that everything is going smoothly and that's not something we're going to skimp on,' Steimer said. In addition to local and state law enforcement officers, the USGA told Earle they will have nearly 300 private security guards to help out as well. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
