US Open Makes Major Last-Minute Change to Help Golfers
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Troy Finnegan is a Newsweek contributor based in Colorado. His focus is golf, football and basketball. Troy has been with Newsweek since February 2025 and also writes for ClutchPoints. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder. You can get in touch with Troy by emailing t.finnegan@newsweek.com.
Troy Finnegan
Contributing Sports Writer
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The third major of the season is already here, and it’s time for the toughest test in golf at the U.S. Open.
Oakmont Country Club is the host for the 2025 edition of the pride and joy of the USGA, and much has been made of the difficulty of the course leading in. Even dating back months, the rough at Oakmont has been going viral for being extremely deep and difficult.
As U.S. Open week kicked off on Monday, videos surfaced of the rough completely engulfing golf balls at the Pennsylvania course. However, the USGA decided to give the players some relief in the afternoon.
Jhonattan Vegas, the 36-hole leader at last month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, sarcastically chimed in after mowers trimmed the rough just a hair.
“Good news guys, they are cutting the rough but, it’s still unplayable. Have fun,” Vegas warned on X.
Unfortunately for the players, it doesn’t appear as if the lawnmowers made that much of a difference. Players were struggling to chip the ball to the green from the greenside rough all afternoon.
OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA – JUNE 09: Tyrrell Hatton 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: Tyrrell Hatton 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.
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
It’s still early in the week, and plenty can change between now and Thursday when the tournament gets going. However, if the Monday conditions are any indication, it’s going to be carnage for even the best of the best all weekend long.
It feels like a distinct possibility that the winning score on Sunday evening could be over par, especially if the rough remains this thick for the entirety of the tournament.
It does not help that the greens are expected to be lightning quick.
Oakmont last hosted the U.S. Open back in 2016, when Dustin Johnson won the title with a score of 4-under par. If someone can hit a similar number this week, they very well would find themselves in the winner’s circle.
More Golf: LIV Golf: 5 Players with Best Chance at US Open from Oakmont
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