Players began arriving at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday, armed with umbrellas and bracing for the challenging conditions that the U.S. Open is known for. Arriving early was Jordan Spieth, who took to the course on Saturday and tackled 11 holes under a persistent drizzle on Sunday. The USGA enforced a rule that restricted players from starting at hole 10, prompting Spieth to navigate his way through the course starting from the first hole.
The course was notably long and wet, having been drenched by heavy rainfall on Friday, with more showers expected later on Sunday. Oakmont, already a formidable test of golf, seemed even more daunting under the soggy conditions. “This course is built to deliver pure golf—rewarding good shots and harshly penalizing errors,” Spieth noted, emphasizing the straightforward nature of the course.
Sunday was also significant for finalizing the lineup of competitors, barring last-minute withdrawals. Following his victory at the Canadian Open, Ryan Fox, along with fellow players Cameron Young and Bud Cauley, climbed into the top 60 of the world rankings, securing their places at the tournament. Young and Cauley had already qualified through prior rounds, enabling runners-up Chase Johnson and Eric Cole from the Columbus, Ohio qualifier to take their spots. Cole, waiting as a second alternate, found his path opened due to Young and Cauley.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) allocated six additional spots for potential top 60 climbers, which went to Doug Ghim from Dallas, Takumi Kanaya from Toronto, and Riki Kawamoto from Japan. Meanwhile, Sahith Theegala stepped out due to injury, granting Matthew Jordan from England an entry as a general alternative.
Amidst the challenging conditions, Spieth managed an impressive performance, scoring two under par for the day, even handing himself a generous short birdie putt on the 17th. He practiced chipping and putting avidly, even throwing balls into thick rough to simulate bunker conditions. The dense and waterlogged rough proved formidable, but Spieth remained unfazed, expressing confidence.
“This challenge amplifies mistakes, but it’s nothing that ends the game. It’s about taking prudent shots when necessary,” Spieth remarked. He suggested that successful strategy would mean embracing modest scores like bogeys and avoiding larger errors prone to more severe consequences.
Players who competed at the Memorial Tournament weeks earlier had already tasted the thick grass of the Ohio Valley. Oakmont, however, intensified the test with its famously fast greens and fewer forced carries. Spieth cautioned against overextending on these greens, emphasizing discipline as crucial.
Showers were slated to persist through Monday before giving way to clearer skies until the weekend. Oakmont boasts a storied history as host of the U.S. Open for a record tenth time, sustaining its image as a venue capable of challenging the elite. Yet, first impressions can be deceptive, as Shane Lowry and Adam Scott could attest—each having faced Oakmont’s trickery on their first visits before experiencing the course’s humbling power during subsequent competitions. Oakmont demands respect, showcasing the purest form of golf with no room for complacency.