U.S. Open practice rounds begin at Oakmont Country Club

Players teed off first thing Monday morning to begin practice rounds at the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.

They were greeted with wet conditions after heavy rains have impacted Western Pennsylvania the past several days, though all the morning rounds went off under cloudy skies and temperatures in the low to mid-70s.

Fans lined the fairways and greens, as well as the practice range, gathering autographs and watching the world’s best golfers learn as much as they can about one of the world’s toughest courses.

Practice rounds are also scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, with championship rounds Thursday through Sunday.

Field set

The USGA announced Monday that three players have full exemptions into the 125th U.S. Open. The number of fully exempt players now sits at 87 players.

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.

Plenty to do

There’s more than golf going on at Oakmont Country Club this week. Fans poured into the various tents and shops along the course on Day 1.

An inside look at the 34,000 square foot merchandise tent here at the U.S. Open @TribLIVE @usopengolf ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/IsyLe9yGj6

— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) June 9, 2025

The main merchandise pavilion, located at the main entrance, is 34,584 square feet, and a satellite merchandise tent behind the practice range totals 5,412 square feet. An express merchandise tent near the pedestrian bridges measures 900 square feet.

Pittsburgh, this one’s for you — we have a Penguins hockey jersey-themed sweatshirt in (you guessed it!) black and gold @TribLIVE @usopengolf pic.twitter.com/fLoORLlA71

— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) June 9, 2025

Also located near the pedestrian bridges that cross the Pa. Turnpike is the USGA Museum, which includes memorabilia from past U.S. Open champions as well as golf simulators.

For fans looking to take a break and watch the action rather than standing along the ropes, there are 9,501 grandstand seats and 1,456 premium seats.