OAKMONT, Pa. — The United States Golf Association (USGA) and Oakmont Country Club are under fire for what critics are calling an excessively punishing course setup at the 2025 U.S. Open. The unforgiving conditions at Oakmont, hosting its record 10th U.S. Open, have decimated the star-studded field, with marquee names missing the cut or languishing far from contention, while lesser-known players like Sam Burns, J.J. Spaun, and Ben Griffin top a leaderboard labeled “starless” by fans and analysts.
Sam Burns, ranked World No. 22, leads at 3-under-par after a stellar 65, the week’s low round, followed by Spaun (-2) and Viktor Hovland (-1), the only players under par through 36 holes.
Meanwhile, golf’s biggest names have been humbled. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau (73-77, +10) missed the cut, as did marquee names like Ludvig Aberg (72-76, +8), Patrick Cantlay (76-72, +8), Tommy Fleetwood (74-75, +9), Cameron Smith (75-73, +8), Phil Mickelson (74-74, +8), Wyndham Clark (74-74, +8), Gary Woodland (73-77, +10), Joaquin Niemann (75-75, +10), Dustin Johnson (75-75, +10), Sepp Straka (78-73, +11), Justin Thomas (76-76, +12), Justin Rose (77-77, +14), and Shane Lowry (79-78, +17).
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (73-71, +4) and Jon Rahm (69-75, +4) sit seven shots back, while Rory McIlroy (74-72, +6) barely survived the cut, projected at 7-over.
Five-time major winner Brooks Koepka (68-74, +2) was five back and positioned best among the true superstars.
Posts on social media captured the frustration, with one user writing, “Oakmont and USGA turned the U.S. Open into a game of bounces and pure luck. Where did all the stars go!?”
Critics argue the USGA’s setup—featuring lightning-fast greens, thick rough, and penal bunkers—crossed the line from challenging to just silly. Oakmont’s lighting-fast greens, rolling at near 15 on the Stimpmeter, and airport-like fairways left players struggling to hold tee balls and approaches. Only 10 players broke par in the first round, and just six did so Friday, with more than 30 scores in the 80s across two days.
The USGA’s history of polarizing setups—think Shinnecock Hills 2018—has fueled the backlash with many complaining that the U.S. Open “will not crown a champion, but a survivor.”
Posts on X, formerly Twitter, piled on, with one fan posting, “USGA’s obsession with ‘tough’ is killing the vibe. Nobody wants to watch JJ Spaun vs. Thriston Lawrence.”
Another user wrote, “It’s all about avoiding disaster, not showcasing skill. That’s not major golf,” with a reply: “They’ve made it so only a fluke round gets you near the lead.”
As the third round begins Saturday, Burns tees off at around 2:45 p.m. ET with a chance to cement his unlikely lead. But the narrative around Oakmont’s setup overshadows the competition. With golf’s biggest stage producing a leaderboard long on grit but short on star power, the USGA will face mounting pressure going forward to balance its “toughest test” mantra with a showcase that elevates the game’s best. For this edition, Oakmont’s brutality has stolen the spotlight.
OWGR Top-20 Ranked Players in the World Thru 36 Holes:
1. Scottie Scheffler +4 (T23)
2. Rory McIlroy +6 (T45)
3. Xander Schauffele +7 (T57)
4. Collin Morikawa +4 (T23)
5. Justin Thomas +12 (MC)
6. Ludvig Aberg +8 (MC)
7. Russell Henley +2 (T8)
8. Sepp Straka +11 (MC)
9. Hideki Matsuyama +7 (T57)
10. Bryson DeChambeau +10 (MC)
11. Maverick McNealy +5 (T36)
12. Shane Lowry +17 (MC)
13. Tommy Fleetwood +9 (MC)
14. Viktor Hovland -1 (3rd)
15. Ben Griffin E (T4)
16. Patrick Cantlay +8 (MC)
17. Harris English +7 (T57)
18. Keegan Bradley +3 (T12)
19. Justin Rose +11 (MC)
20. Robert MacIntyre +4 (T23)
