Tiger Woods and the US Open Insights
Tiger Woods might not be competing at Oakmont Country Club for the 125th US Open this week, but he’s fully aware of the challenges the golfers are facing in the opening round on Thursday.
Recovering from a torn Achilles tendon sustained in March, Woods previously finished second at this renowned course during the 2007 US Open. While he’s on the sidelines, he’s been lending his insights to participants through his Sunday Red Brand.
Confidence plays a vital role in golf.
“Oakmont doesn’t hold back,” Woods stated in a video he shared. “The course has its size, but you can’t escape it—you have to hit the ball effectively, and let’s face it, you really want to drive it long given the complexities involved.”
However, for all that distance, there’s one crucial aspect: the ball needs to go straight.
During their practice rounds, many golfers chuckled about how thick the rough is around the fairways and greens at Oakmont. But as Woods pointed out, this doesn’t lessen the challenges the course presents. The real question is how much trust you have in your own skills.
If you can nail those long shots, Woods suggests, your scorecard is likely to look better than someone who opts for shorter clubs just to keep the ball straight.
“Using a shorter iron might help you hit the ball cleaner,” Woods explained. “But it’s all about missing the ball in the right places… because if you don’t, watch out!”
Alongside the challenges posed by the course itself, players are also confronted with tricky greens. A mistaken putt can send the ball rolling way past the hole, making it tricky to manage the spin on approach shots.
There are some notably long holes, like the tough 289-yard par-3, that really test the golfers.
Some golfers are indeed capable of hitting both long and straight shots. Players like Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau are ones to watch this week.
DeChambeau is the reigning US Open champion, having taken the title last year at Pinehurst No. 2 after a showdown against Rory McIlroy. Meanwhile, Scheffler is on a hot streak after recently winning the PGA Championship.
