U.S. Open hole by hole: Sloping green among challenges on No. 2 at Oakmont
From the pristine fairways and lightning-fast greens to the punishing bunkers and club-twisting rough, Oakmont Country Club is one of the toughest tests for even the world’s best golfers, who will descend upon Western Pennsylvania for the 125th U.S. Open from June 12-15.
TribLive is producing a hole-by-hole look at what makes Oakmont Country Club one of the most popular and anticipated stops for the USGA.
Hole 2 breakdown
Length: 346 yards, Par 4
Handicap: 13
2016 U.S. Open stroke average: 4.13
Description
The second-shortest par 4 on the course requires strategy with each shot and will have players pondering as they walk across the bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike to play the second hole. Some will be tempted to drive the green from the lower tee box, though a large bunker sits in front of the putting surface. From the tee, most players will hit a mid-iron to keep the ball in the fairway and avoid ditches along the left rough and bunkers to the right.
A wedge or pitch approach must to be in proper position because navigating the green will be a challenge. It slopes severely from back to front, so it’s best to stay below the hole.
Legend says architect W.C. Fownes would drop a ball on the back left side of the putting surface each morning. If it didn’t roll off the front of the green and back into the fairway, he would tell the groundskeepers to keep rolling the green until it did.
If played correctly, this would be a prime opportunity for birdie on the front nine. If not, it could lead to a bevy of three-putts.
Memorable moment from U.S. Open
Bobby Jones was the defending U.S. Open champion in 1927. He had just eagled the first hole to gain momentum. He then played the second hole with a strong approach to set himself up for a birdie putt. According to a report, the USGA said his putt rimmed the cup, and he settled for par. He ended up finishing 11th, the only time he was outside the top 10 at a U.S. Open.
How the locals play it
Devin Gee has spent more time on the course than nearly anyone since becoming the head professional and director of golf at Oakmont Country Club in 2017. He has worked at the course since 2007.
He sees a few options for how to play No. 2 at this year’s U.S. Open.
“We have some different strategies you can use off the tee and play it really short to 150, which kind of takes most of the risk out of the tee shot, but obviously leaves you a longer second shot. You could now play it just short of the cross bunker, which for these guys, will probably be something in like a driving iron or 5-wood, which would kind of give you about 100 yards in, or I think we’ll see some guys hit driver and try to get it around the green.
“We have a new hole location, which is technically front left, which angle and short club is critically important to have any control coming into that hole location. And then as the hole moves sort of back left or even back right, it’s kind of interesting. Like, you would think, closer the better, which it might be, but sometimes having 120 could be easier than having 70 or 80 (to the hole). So I think those holes in particular will be interesting to watch how the players navigate their tee shot just based on the hole location.”
Around the U.S Open
Spotlight
Rory McIlroy
The No. 2 player in the world won the Masters in April to complete the career grand slam of golf’s four major championships. He also won the U.S. Open in 2011 and ’12, as well as the 2014 PGA championship and the 2014 British Open.
The Northern Ireland native has 44 professional wins, including 29 on the PGA Tour. He was the PGA Tour Player of the Year five times and won the FedEx Cup in 2016, ’19 and ’22. McIlroy has played for Europe’s Ryder Cup team seven times.
Despite all his success during his 18-year professional career, he failed to make the cut at the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. He shot 77-71 and was 8-over-par, missing the cut by two shots.
In his more recent U.S. Open history, McIlroy has finished in the top 10 in each of the past six years, including runner-up finishes the last two years.
By the numbers
-16 – Score by Rory McIlroy when he won the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club.
77 – Birdies on the second hole during the 2016 U.S. Open.
22 – Double bogeys on the second hole during the 2016 U.S. Open.
Quotable
“To be able to win on a course like this with the conditions the way they are, it would probably be my, I don’t know, maybe my biggest accomplishment in the game. But definitely would make me feel like a more complete player, I guess.”
— Rory McIlroy, speaking with the Associated Press about Oakmont Country Club ahead of the 2016 U.S. Open
U.S. Open history
Only six players have won the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year. Rory McIlroy will attempt to become the seventh next month at Oakmont.
1941: Craig Wood
1951: Ben Hogan
1953: Ben Hogan
1960: Arnold Palmer
1972: Jack Nicklaus
2002: Tiger Woods
2015: Jordan Spieth
Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.
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