Drive for Show, Putt for Double Bogey: The 17th Hole At Oakmont at The US Open
The US Open: Here's a View Going Up The 17th at Oakmont Golf Club
The 17th Plays A Pivotal Role
The USGA is known for selecting golf courses which require a multifaceted golf game. You need to have accurate driving ability, superb course management skills, ability to play out of super deep rough, and a magical short game. Watch the next USGA Video of the 17th Hole at Oakmont. Keep in mind the rough around the 17th green is so deep a player may even lose his ball since it drops out of sight in the deep grass. The greens at Oakmont can get up to over 14 on the stimpmeter and the next video shows how the 17th Green tends to flow downward toward the traps that surround the green.
Check Out This USGA Video On The 17th at Oakmont
Angel Cabrera Won The Last US Open At Oakmont +5!
In 2007, Angel Cabrera won the US Open with a total 5 over par. Many tour players regard Oakmont as the toughest course they've ever played, long and narrow, church pew bunkers, absolutely deep deep rough, etc. In 1973 Johnny Miller shot a final round of 63 which is the record for the lowest round ever shot at Oakmont in the final round. Back in 2007, Cabrera's 5 over was only one shot better than Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk who both failed to birdie 18 to tie him and force a next day playoff.
Oakmont's Big Mouth Bunker! Very Deep!
There's Lots of Sand Around The Green
Take a look at the traps surrounding the 17th green which is reachable by many of the players. If a player's drive should catch one of the five deep traps around the green, you're faced with a difficult bunker shot, of course. If you're standing on the green waiting to putt, the traps are so deep, a player on the green can't see the top of the head of the guy who is playing out of the bunker. One of the hardest shots in golf is to hit out of a deep bunker onto a super fast table top green sloping downward.
Don't Forget About Oakmont's Church Pew Bunkers
The Long Hitter May Only Need A Three Wood To Reach The Green
We don't know why the 17th hole at Golf Courses have a certain aura, fear, danger, disaster, etc. like the 17th Island Green at The Tournament Players Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida or the 17th into a strong and fierce ocean wind at Pebble Beach, but the 17th at Oakmont is definitely one of the most exciting holes to watch. Golf Course Designers tend to try and outdo each other and certainly a bad score on any 17th hole can destroy a fairly good round. To complicate matters, the tip of the Tee box on the 17th can be shortened from it's max of 313 yards to 276 yards if the tournament officials should choose to add some excitement.
More on Oakmont's Greens
The Greens are super fast with numerous undulations. Going past the pin may leave you a longer putt coming back.
Watch this putt at Oakmont - hard to believe!
Here's The Scorecard
Par 71, Over 7000 yards, with a 147 slope.
Great Weekend To Watch The US Open
It's been 9 years since the US Open was played at the Oakmont Golf Club in Pennsylvania, and this golf course should be the star of the show, especially watching players hit it out of deep deep rough. Perhaps, a very memorable event to watch. Most say the straightest hitters and best putters will prevail. Jordan Spieth will be defending his US Open win last year but so far, he's not the betting favorite to win. Should be an interesting and great weekend!
A New Golf Joke Book
Check Out These Vids of the Rough Around the 17th Green
- The rough and greens of Oakmont might make this the hardest U.S. Open ever - SBNation.com
U.S. Open week is just starting but player reviews started to light up on Sunday and, well, it could get uggggggly this week at Oakmont Country Club.