Report: Oakmont could be backup plan if June's U.S. Open at Winged Foot is scrapped

Oakmont Country Club has long carried a reputation for being one of the toughest golf courses in the world.

Its members might even be considered braggadocious about it, saying the club could host a U.S. Open any day of the week, any time of year.

That sentiment might be put to the test.

According to Golfweek, the fabled club is being considered as a back-up to host this year’s U.S. Open in June.

Yes, this year’s Open.

Two major championships — The Masters and PGA Championship — already have been postponed due to the widespread panic caused by the coronavirus. But the other two remain unchanged as of now.

The U.S. Open is set for June 18-21 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester, N.Y., while the Open Championship will be July 16-19 at Royal St. George’s in England.

Westchester, Golfweek said, has been a “hotspot” for covid-19 outbreaks. There have been 220 cases reported in Westchester County, according to the New Rochelle Daily Voice.

So, where does Oakmont, which is primed to host the 2025 U.S. Open, come in?

Oakmont and Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, regulars in the U.S. Open rotation, are being considered as alternate sites, sources told the publication.

“Based on shifting dynamics, postponing is a possibility that we are grappling with, but our goal is to keep our slot and play at Winged Foot,” Craig Annis, chief brand officer of the USGA, said in the Golfweek article.

The PGA Tour is looking at a possible resumption of its season in mid-to-late May.

The governing bodies of the game — the USGA and PGA among them — have feverishly been discussing ways to save the 2020 season in light of the global effects of the coronavirus.

The future of golf’s four major championships hangs in the balance with the Masters and PGA Championship already postponing their tournaments.

The PGA Championship, which was set for May 14-17 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, was put on hold. The PGA Tour followed with four tournament cancellations: the RBC Heritage, Zurich Classic, Wells Fargo Championship and Byron Nelson Classic.

That made nine professional golf events wiped out in five days.

Golfweek said people with knowledge of the situation said the PGA Championship could be rescheduled for the week of Aug. 3.

The Masters could take place in October, the publication said.

Oakmont has hosted the U.S. Open a record nine times, most recently in 2016 and 2007. Since the turn of the century, the club has also hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 2010 and the U.S. Amateur in 2003.