Every hole is a real test at Oakmont Country Club, but we've narrowed the key holes down to four. Take a look and find out which holes the US Open will be won and lost on this week...
Hole 8 - Par 3, 288 yards:
When played at its full length this hole will once again play as the longest par three in US Open history at 288 yards. Only 27 per cent of field in 2007 found this green in regulation, which goes to show what a test this brute is. Also complicating matters is the Sahara bunker, a 100-yard long bunker to the left of the green. If you do find the green in one, a birdie chance awaits with a large and fairly flat putting surface - one of the most forgiving on this Pennsylvania layout - awaiting. If the wind gets up and the pin here on eight is set up at the back, we might even see some players having to hit driver here…
Hole 9 - Par 4, 477 yards:
A 477 yard par four with the largest green on the golf course at 65 yards deep, which is amazingly shared with the main practice putting green in front of the clubhouse, the final hole of the front nine really is full of character and quirkiness. Back in 1994, when the ninth was a par five and one Ernie Els won his first Major Championship, it was the easiest hole on the golf course. Oh, how things have changed since then. With the fairway 37 feet above the tee box presenting the players with a blind, uphill tee shot, you instantly get the feeling that you are in for a challenge. Another narrow fairway with a severe ditch left and a menacing bunker right, if you find a good position for your approach from the tee your task is by no means over.
Waiting for you up on the green is one of the most iconic settings in golf – however it is an iconic setting with a big undulating green. Only blue marker posts stipulate where the practice putting area finishes, with this fascinating arena playing host to a wonderful moment back in 2007, when Paul Casey defied the odds to card a sensational second round 66 in some brutal condtions. Having started on the 10th, Casey finished his round and when the pros on the practice green looked up at the leaderboard and saw Casey’s red numbers amid a sea of blue, they dropped their putters and showed their appreciation. Back in 2007 this hole averaged 4.50 and ranked as the fourth toughest on the course, so do not be surprised if you see a lot of bogeys on the card here.
Hole 17 - Par 4, 313 yards
Great theatre. That is what this 313 yards, par four is going to provide all week long. But what is the big deal we hear you say? Well, if you’re trying to drive the green from the most isolated tee box on the course, your margin for error is very narrow. Lying between the tee box and the green are six bunkers up the left centre -- one worryingly named ‘Big Mouth’, and around the green five more bunkers. Oh, and if you miss left, waiting for you is some of the nastiest rough on this golf course, and that really is saying something. ‘Big Mouth’, which is about 10 yards short of a narrow green, has been eating up balls for fun during the practice days here in Pennsylvania, so do not be surprised if you see players laying up from the tee and hitting wedges into this green.
In contention back in 2007, the last time Oakmont hosted this Championship, Jim Furyk bogeyed the 17th when tied for the lead after trying to drive the short par four. So far in practice we have seen a mixture of conservative tee shots with irons, and aggressive drives right at the pin, with Rory McIlroy in particular taking driver from this tee on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. With rumours aplenty that the USGA will move the tees up at some point this week to really tempt the players into going for it (as if some of them need it), the par four will make for a fascinating watch. This risk and reward hole, which could give us a few eagles and many high numbers this week, is truly one of the game’s great short par fours.
Hole 18 - Par 4, 484 yards:
Just when you think you’ve seen it all along comes the picturesque 484 yard closing hole. Angel Cabrera made it all look easy when he won here back in 2007, thanks to a 340 yard drive. However, that is not an easy task, and even if you have that power in your locker, there is plenty of mischief lurking in the thick rough either side of the fairway – not to mention the fairway bunkers that are in play left and right, and those nasty Oakmont ditches left.
Once you have made your way to the green things get spicey, with the putting surface at the closing hole consisting of two different levels, and sloping from top to bottom quite drastically. During practice, player after player has seemed completely bemused and amazed at how quick and treacherous the final green can be. With the Sunday pin position over on the right-hand side, in a precarious position, you wouldn’t want to have to two putt on Sunday for this title…
