U.S. Open notebook: Players' mental toughness to be tested at Oakmont

The world’s best golfers will be tested this week with every shot they take, whether they are putting on the lightning-fast greens, stuck in treacherous rough or buried in punishing bunkers.

But they also will be battling the mental fatigue generated by playing a course like Oakmont Country Club.

Many players on tour work with sports psychologists or coaches to allow them to focus on the positives or bounce back from negatives while in competition.

“Like truly being positive, or for me at least, good attitude is being level-headed,” said Xander Schauffele, the No. 3-ranked player in the world. “I think I look pretty level-headed when I play, but internally I might be absolutely just thrashing myself.

“I think truly having a good attitude is just sort of accepting what’s happened and allowing yourself to be pretty much at zero to hit the next shot.”

Justin Thomas, who is No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking, echoed those sentiments, saying a course like Oakmont can impact players mentally and physically.

“Being perfectly honest and very selfish, I hope it psychs a lot of players out,” he said. “It’s a part of the preparation, like trying to go hit wedges or trying to get the speed of the greens or anything. It’s getting a game plan for how you’re going to approach the course mentally and strategically.”

Who’s in the field?

This week’s U.S. Open field is crowded with former U.S. Open champions — Wyndham Clark (2023), Bryson DeChambeau (2020, ‘24), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022), Lucas Glover (2009), Dustin Johnson (2016), Brooks Koepka (2017, ‘18), Rory McIlroy (2011), Jon Rahm (2021), Justin Rose (2013), Jordan Speith (2015) and Gary Woodland (2019).

There’s also 10 U.S. Open runners-up, eight U.S. Amateur champions, eight U.S. Junior Amateur champions and one U.S. Senior Open champion (Richard Bland, 2024).

Five players in the field were Olympic medalists, including gold medal winners Justin Rose (2016), Xander Schauffele (2020) and Scottie Scheffler (2024).

The USGA had 10,202 entries for the tournament, the highest total in U.S. Open history. The 156-player field includes 87 fully exempt golfers.

There are 15 amateurs in the field, including Noah Kent, the 2024 U.S. Amateur runner-up; Trevor Gutschewski, the reigning U.S. Junior Amateur champion; and Evan Beck, the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion.

Late-round workout?

Denmark’s Niklas Norgaard got an up-close look at the rough around the 18th green when he dropped to the ground for pushups. Norgaard said he’d lost a bet with his coach tied to an up-and-down drill, so he delighted the Oakmont crowd by doing his 30 pushups in front of everyone.

“I had to (convert) five out of nine, and I didn’t,” Norgaard said. “Otherwise, he should have done it.”

The 33-year-old is making his U.S. Open debut after tying for second at the Canada qualifier in York, Ontario. Monday’s practice round was his first time playing at Oakmont.

“It’s so tough, but it’s fun to really think your way around,” Norgaard said. “There’s just no time for calm. You have to hit a good tee shot, a good second shot and a chip and a putt. You’ve got to be good at everything.”

Field finalized

The USGA announced Monday that three players completed the field with full exemptions into the 125th U.S. Open.

Ryan Fox, Cameron Young and Bud Cauley were added to the field Monday.

Fox earned an exemption based on his current Official World Golf Ranking. He moved up 43 spots to No. 32 overall after his win at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday. Fox will play in his seventh U.S. Open.

Young and Cauley, Nos. 56 and 58 in the world, respectively, earned their bids through the Columbus, Ohio, final qualifier June 2.

Young has six top-10 finishes this year on the PGA Tour and will compete in his sixth U.S. Open. Cauley is playing in his third U.S. Open. He has recorded five top-10 finishes this year.

Next up

The players will be back on the course Tuesday for practice rounds, starting at 6:45 a.m., weather permitting, and continuing throughout the day. There will be another practice round Wednesday before championship rounds start Thursday.