The third major of the 2025 season is upon us, as the 125th U.S. Open gets underway this week at famed Oakmont Country Club in western Pennsylvania.
The iconic golf course has hosted the United States’ national golf championship nine previous times, including the 2016 edition — played two weeks after Pro Golf Weekly’s launch in June 2016. It was also Dustin Johnson’s first major title.
Phil Mickelson, 54, will headline what is likely his final U.S. Open start. The six-time major winner, however, enters in solid form and is expected to be more than a ceremonial player.
The serious contenders this week at Oakmont feature stars from both of pro golf’s top tours, including Bryson DeChambeau, Joaquin Niemann, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm, of the upstart LIV Golf league; and Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa of the established PGA Tour.
Other marquee names, who are considered serious contenders, include Ludvig Aberg, Patrick Cantlay, Cam Smith, Shane Lowry, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jordan Spieth, among others.
U.S. Open Skinny
Name: United States Open Championship
Debut: 1895
Edition: 125th
Dates: June 12-15, 2025
Where: Oakmont, PA
Course: Oakmont CC
Distance: Par 70, 7372 yards
Architect: Henry Fownes (1904)
Renovation: Tom Fazio (2015)
Renovation: Gil Hanse (2023-24)
Format: Stroke, 72-holes, 36-hole cut
Field Size: 156
Purse: $20,000,000
Winning Share: $3,600,000
Winner’s Pts FEC/OWGR: 750/100
Defending Champion: Bryson DeChambeau
How to Follow the U.S. Open
TELEVISION: Thu: 6 a.m.-5 p.m. (USA), 5-8 p.m. (Peacock); Fri: 6 a.m.-1 p.m. (Peacock), 1-7 p.m. (NBC), 7-8 p.m. (Peacock); Sat: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. (USA), 12-8 p.m. (NBC); Sun: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (USA), 12-7 p.m. (NBC)
STREAM: Thu: 6 a.m.-5 p.m. (NBC Sports App), 5-8 p.m. (Peacock); Fri: 6 a.m.-1 p.m. (Peacock), 1-7 p.m. (NBC Sports App), 7-8 p.m. (Peacock); Sat: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (NBC Sports App); Sun: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (NBC Sports App)
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U.S. Open History
It is now one of, if not the, grandest show in golf, but at its beginning, the U.S. Open was just an ancillary tournament to the highly regarded U.S. Amateur.
That inaugural event occurred in 1895, making the U.S. Open the second oldest of the four majors, and was held at the opulent Newport Golf Club in Newport, R.I., the “in” summer hideaway of America’s wealthy and social elite at the time.
Played on Newport’s nine-hole course, the first U.S. Open was held in one day, with each of the 11 golfers in the field playing the course four times. Horace Rawlins, a 21-year-old from England, posted 91-82 to win the tournament by two strokes. He was awarded a $150 share of the $335 purse.
Eighteen years later, the 1913 U.S. Open was held at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. The heavy favorites were English legends Harry Vardon (1900 U.S. Open winner; four-time British Open winner) and Ted Ray (reigning British Open champion). After 72 holes the pair found themselves tied with an unknown 20-year-old amateur named Francis Ouimet, who had grown up across the street from the course and was a former caddie at the club — forcing an 18-hole playoff the next day.
In a shocking upset, Ouimet soundly defeated the two professional golfers in front of huge galleries, resulting in newspaper stories which captured the imagination of the American public. The number of golfers in the country at least tripled in the subsequent decade, with a corresponding increase in golf courses (including many public courses, opening up the game to a larger segment of the population).
The story of Ouimet’s triumph at the 1913 US Open was commercialized by Mark Frost’s 2002 book, ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played: Harry Vardon, Francis Ouimet, and the Birth of Modern Golf,’ which Frost then adapted for a 2005 film.
Over time, the tournament developed a reputation for being the most challenging event in golf, allowing it to draw in the best of the best.
The U.S. Open boasts perhaps the most prestigious list of winners of any tournament. That list includes Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Payne Stewart, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, and Ernie Els, among others.
Modern-day superstars who’ve won the U.S. Open include Rory McIlroy (2011), Jordan Spieth (2015), Dustin Johnson (2016), Brooks Koepka (2017-18), Jon Rahm (2021), and Bryson DeChambeau (2020, 2024).
Hogan, Jones, Nicklaus, and Willie Anderson all share the tournament record for most wins with four apiece. Tiger and Hale Irwin are next with three victories, followed by two apiece by Alex Smith, John McDermott, Ralph Guldahl, Cary Middlecoff, Julius Boros, Billy Casper, Andy North, Curtis Strange, Lee Janzen, Retief Goosen, Trevino, Hagen, Sarazen, Stewart, Els, Koepka and DeChambeau.
A testament to just how difficult the U.S. Open has played historically: In 124 editions of the tournament just five players have finished double-digits under par: Woods (-12) at Pebble Beach in 2000, McIlroy (-16) at Congressional Country Club in 2011, Koepka (-16) at Erin Hills in 2017, Gary Woodland (-13) at Pebble Beach in 2019, and Wyndham Clark at L.A. Country Club in 2023.
U.S. Open History: Recent Winners
2024: Bryson DeChambeau (-6)
2023: Wyndham Clark (-10)
2022: Matt Fitzpatrick (-6)
2021: Jon Rahm (-6)
2020: Bryson DeChambeau (-6)
2019: Gary Woodland (-13)
2018: Brooks Koepka (+1)
2017: Brooks Koepka (-16)
2016: Dustin Johnson (-4)
2015: Jordan Spieth (-5)
2014: Martin Kaymer (-9)
2013: Justin Rose (+1)
U.S. Open History: Records
SCORING
(268) – Rory McIlroy (2011)
(-16) – Rory McIlroy (2011), Brooks Koepka (2017)
WINS
(4) – Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953)
(4) – Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929-30)
(4) – Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980)
(4) – Willie Anderson (1901, 1903-05)
(3) – Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008)
(3) – Hale Irwin (1974, 1979, 1990)
The Course: Oakmont CC
Oakmont Country Club, hosting its record 10th U.S. Open, in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, is a par-70, 7372-yard beast designed by Henry Fownes and recently restored by Gil Hanse.
Known for its lightning-fast greens (14-15 on the Stimpmeter), over 200 punishing bunkers like the “Church Pews,” and thick rough, Oakmont demands precise driving, imaginative short-game play, and mental fortitude.
Iconic holes like the bunker-laden 3rd and blind-tee 9th test every facet of a golfer’s skill.
Past champions such as Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Dustin Johnson highlight its legacy, and with Hanse’s tweaks amplifying its difficulty, the 2025 U.S. Open will favor elite ball-strikers like Scottie Scheffler, where par will be a hard-earned prize.
The Course Skinny
Name: Oakmont Country Club
Established: 1904
Where: Oakmont, PA
Architect: Henry Fownes (1904)
Renovation: Tom Fazio (2015)
Renovation: Gil Hanse (2023-24)
Par: 35-35-70
Yards: 7372
Green Speed: Lightning-fast, rolling 14-15 on the Stimpmeter.
Bunkers: Over 200, including the iconic “Church Pews” (holes 3 and 4).
Rough: 4-5″ thick, penal, making driving accuracy critical.
Par 3s: 4 (6, 8, 13, 16)
Par 5s: 2 (4, 12)
Par 4s: 12
Signature Holes:
- Hole 3 (Par 4, 428 yards): Church Pews bunker complex challenges tee shots.
- Hole 9 (Par 4, 477 yards): Blind tee shot, sloping fairway, and treacherous green.
- Hole 12 (Par 5, 667 yards): Long, with deep bunkers and a heavily contoured green.
Oakmont: Hole-By-Hole
Hole 1: Par 4, 488 Yards
Hole 2: Par 4, 346 Yards
Hole 3: Par 4, 462 Yards
Hole 4: Par 5, 611 Yards
Hole 5: Par 4, 408 Yards
Hole 6: Par 3, 200 Yards
Hole 7: Par 4, 485 Yards
Hole 8: Par 3, 289 Yards
Hole 9: Par 4, 472 Yards
OUT: Par 35, 3761 Yards
Hole 10: Par 4, 461 Yards
Hole 11: Par 4, 400 Yards
Hole 12: Par 5, 632 Yards
Hole 13: Par 3, 182 Yards
Hole 14: Par 4, 379 Yards
Hole 15: Par 4, 507 Yards
Hole 16: Par 3, 236 Yards
Hole 17: Par 4, 312 Yards
Hole 18: Par 4, 502 Yards
IN: Par 35, 3611 Yards
TOT: Par 70, 7372 Yards
U.S. Open Field
Who plans to seize the moment this week?
At 3-1, Scottie Scheffler is an overwhelming favorite in western PA. The Texan enters in absolute tip-top form, highlighted by three wins in his last four starts: the Byron Nelson, the PGA, and the Memorial. The one tournament he did not win? He finished T4! Just an historical heater.
At 7-1, and the only other player in the single digits, is Bryson DeChambeau, the defending champion, who’s finished T2 (PGA) and T5 (Masters) in the season’s first two majors.
DeChambeau also enters on a heater, with six straight top-5 finishes, including a win in Korea: 5th (LIV Miami), T5 (Masters), T2 (LIV Mexico), 1st (LIV Korea), T2 (PGA), T4 (LIV Virginia).
Rory McIlroy was next at 11-1. The Northern Irishman has fallen on tough times since the PGA deemed his driver illegal. He finished T47 at the PGA, and then shockingly missed the cut at the Canadian Open, raising suspicion that his previous top form may have been enhanced by an illegal driver.
Jon Rahm, who also enters in top form (three straight top-10s), is offered at 14-1. Xander Schauffele rounds out the top-5 favs at 20-1.
The world’s three best players under 30 were next at 25-1: Collin Morikawa (28), Joaquin Niemann (26) and Ludvig Aberg (25).
Rounding out the top-10 favorites, at 35-1, was Patrick Cantlay and a trio of expected 2025 European Ryder Cup teammates: Tommy Fleetwood, Sepp Straka and Shane Lowry.
Justin Thomas, who is in solid form, but has been an all-time bust in majors, is listed at 40-1, slightly better odds than five-time major winner Brooks Kopeka (50-1) who’s struggled with his game since winning the 2023 PGA. Koepka enters off a T33 in Virgina. Russell Henley was also at 50-1.
Jordan Spieth, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland and Ben Griffin rounded out the top-20 favorites at 55-1
Big names who are longer shots this week include Hideki Matsuyama (60-1), who arrives off a three straight finishes outside the top 35. The Japanese star won The Sentry at Kapalua to kick off the season but has failed to post a single top-10 finish since.
Sam Burns, who was also 60-1, enters off a total choke job at the Canadian Open where he missed a five-footer to win in overtime.
Can fan fav Dustin Johnson win a second U.S. Open at the place of his first? DJ (150-1) arrives at Oakmont off a T10 in Virginia – his third top-10 in his last five starts on the LIV tour. He’s been a non-factor, though, in the majors since joining LIV Golf.
With all that said, many eyes will be focused on Phil Mickelson, who will turn 55 on June 16. Could the golf media’s most hated man pull off a miracle, and complete the career grand slam? Doubtful (he’s 150-1). But he’s playing his best golf since joining the LIV circuit and makes for a great pre-game storyline.
Top-10 Betting Favorites
1. Scottie Scheffler (3-1)
2. Bryson DeChambeau (7-1)
3. Rory McIlroy (11-1)
4. Jon Rahm (14-1)
5. Xander Schauffele (20-1)
6. Collin Morikawa (25-1)
6. Joaquin Niemann (25-1)
6. Ludvig Aberg (25-1)
9. Patrick Cantlay (35-1)
9. Sepp Straka (35-1)
9. Tommy Fleetwood (35-1)
9. Shane Lowry (35-1)
Full Field & Odds
Credits: Carey Hoffman, Joel Cook, USGA, Getty Images, PGA Tour Media, LIV Golf Media
