US Open 2024: Oakmont's brutal course crushes golf's biggest stars
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As the US Open sauntered into the weekend, the air at Oakmont is dense with trepidation. The brutal course in Pittsburgh is soaking the players in the mist of their own perspiration. They are treading with fear, bruised by the penal rough, the slightest error off the tee proving mighty expensive. The fast and firm poa annua (a type of grass) greens are breaking hearts at every hole.The knife came down hard at Oakmont, slicing the reputations of some, and stealing the dignity of others. The former Open Champion Shane Lowry directed expletives at the course. Others just concealed their pain behind a wry helpless smile. Their agony lingers in the air as 67 men remain in Pittsburgh, cradling fragile hope in their trembling limbs.The US Open is meant to be a tough test, but Oakmont is a brutal examination of character. Four of the world's top 10 players, including Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg, and Sepp Straka were denied their honour. Bryson DeChambeau was forced to abandon his title defense, after a humiliating 77 in the s e c o n d ro u n d . P h i l Mickelson, Justin Rose, Lowry, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Dustin Johnson were also scrambling for a ride home.It felt like a good day to be South African even in the world of golf. Just hours ahead of the rainbow nation trouncing the Aussies for the World Test Championship, Thriston Lawrence threatened to run away into the lead at Oakmont. But after being six-under through 22 holes, the Nelspruit native was introduced to the explosive character of the course. He would end the day at one-over alongside Frenchman Victor Perez.Sam Burns (137) showed remarkable poise as the course produced a bloody carnage. His 65 is the third best score in a US Open at Oakmont, behind Johnny Miller (63, 1973) and Loren Roberts (64, 1994). Only three golfers reached the weekend in red numbers, the smallest group since Johnson was the lone ranger to keep his head above water at Shinnecock Hills in 2018. Opening round leader JJ Spaun (138) showed steely resolve to eke out a 72, while Viktor Hovland was two behind Burns at 139.Rory McIlroy personified the frustrations when you need to think before each stroke. Oakmont does not allow a free swing, muscle memory just a redundant necessity. The scorecard at Oakmont is as fragile as a tea biscuit, and a couple of double bogeys in the first three holes threatened to knock him into the woods. To his credit, the Masters champion kept his head down, grinding out birdies on the 15th and 18th holes to slip in just one stroke above the cut line. Weather intervened on Friday night, when pouring rain doused the course. Perhaps even the Gods wanted to ease the pain for golfers.Saturday is a moving day in golf, but it could turn into a big rearrangement of the leaderboard if the early groups take advantage of the softer conditions. The top 10, including Adam Scott at even in T4, are separated by just five strokes. As many as 22 golfers are six strokes adrift, leaving them plenty of time to work their way up the order. At 4-over, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler will hope to work their way inside the chasing pack with a steady round on Saturday.As many as fifteen amateurs earned a ticket to the 125th US Open. Only one man remains. Justin Hastings is assured of low amateur honours. The weekend could turn into a real slugfest if some of the heavyweights make a heady push in the third round. Scheffler (144) is seven back, but with two rounds to be played, that's barely enough margin to keep the world No.1 pinned to the floor. There is so much pedigree at the bottom of the table, and the course has a ton of tricks. Things could change very quickly during the weekend if one of them gets on a little run Xander Schauffele made his 66th consecutive cut on the PGA Tour, the longest streak among his contemporaries. He is six over though, needing a remarkable turnround to jump back into contention. Jordan Spieth (145) and Collin Morikawa (144) will also harbour hopes, especially if the top end of the leaderboard turns brittle. Brooks Koepka (142), after several disappointing starts, seems to have finally rediscovered his avowed taste for major golf.Despite the moist conditions, Oakmont remains a firm test of allround excellence. Adam Scott (140) has worked his way into contention through the tee box (2.06 strokes gained) and laser like irons (2.2). Spaun has built his cushion with the putter (2.48) and Burns has been stellar around the greens (2.06) and with his approach (2.19) game. If the greens remain softer from the rain, strokes gained off the tee, and approach might emerge as key determinants of success on Sunday.
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