When it comes to the U.S. Open, no venue strikes fear into the hearts of golfers quite like Oakmont Country Club. Nestled in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open a record ten times (if you include this year), each tournament a relentless examination of skill, patience, and mental toughness.
Known for its lightning-fast greens, deep bunkers, and penal rough, Oakmont remains one of the most challenging tests in all of golf. But how many players have actually conquered it enough to finish under par?
The Definition of a U.S. Open Test
Before diving into the rarefied list of under-par finishers, it’s important to understand what makes Oakmont so unique. Designed by Henry Fownes in 1903, Oakmont was intended to be punishing, and it has only grown more fearsome with time.
The course features minimal trees, but what it lacks in visual clutter, it makes up for with brutally difficult playing conditions. The greens are often called the fastest in major championship golf, and the course’s slope and layout punish even the slightest miscue.
Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007, and 2016. Each of these tournaments was marked by high scores and elite champions. From Ben Hogan (-5 in 1953) and Jack Nicklaus (-1 in 1962) to Johnny Miller (-5 in 1973) and Dustin Johnson (-4 in 2016), the list of winners reads like a Hall of Fame roster.
But even among these legends, finishing under par has proven to be a challenge.
The Short List of Under-Par Finishers
Despite being the site of so many storied tournaments, very few players have finished under par at Oakmont during a U.S. Open. In fact, only 27 (2% of players in history) have managed the feat. Out of 1385 players, that’s it.
Now, you may be thinking, why so few?
The reason the list is so short boils down to Oakmont’s difficulty and the U.S. Open’s traditional course setup. The USGA prides itself on pushing players to their limits, and Oakmont delivers that challenge better than perhaps any other course.
With rough that swallows balls, bunkers that resemble craters, and greens that roll like marble countertops, even par becomes a heroic score.
“You hit a ball off the fairway and you were looking for a good couple minutes just to find it. It’s very penal if you miss. Sometimes it’s penal if you don’t miss,” McIlroy said.
According to a Golf Monthly article, “The course has been played as a par 70 over the last two US Opens (2007 and 2016), and during this time only four players out of 312 have scored under par for the week.”
These players include Dustin Johnson at -4 (276), and Shane Lowry, Jim Furyk, and Scott Piercy, who each finished at -1.
A Testament to Greatness
Finishing under par at Oakmont during a U.S. Open is historic.
“It’s not easy, but if you go out there and execute, put your ball in good spots and keep it underneath the hole for the most part, you can walk away with a good score,” Ryan Gerard said.
With Oakmont set to host future U.S. Opens (2033, 2042, 2049), including this year’s championship, all eyes will be on whether any modern players can join that ultra-elite club. For now, under-par finishes at Oakmont remain one of the rarest feats in golf.
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