125th US Open: The scene is set for a classic at Oakmont
- SHANK Media
- 3 days ago
- 10 min read
Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau, Rahm and co ready to take on Golf's Toughest Test
SHANK PREVIEW TO THE 125th US OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
9 June 2025 - SHANK, by Matt Hooper: The PGA Championship, played at Quail Hollow, and won by Scottie Scheffler, was in my opinion a forgettable championship played on a course we see every year at the now Truist, and formerly Wachovia Championship. The 125th US Open is everything that the PGA Championship was not.
Oakmont is a course we see infrequently, and by that I mean in 2016, 2007, 1994, 1983, 1973, and 1962 - just 6 times since golf began being shown on television more than 60 years ago. Oakmont has a mystique, and Oakmont has a long history, hosting a total of 12 men's professional majors and 2 women's professional majors, along with 6 US Amateur Championships. Oakmont is also a formidable test of golf, and several levels above what was presented at the PGA Championship last month. At Quail Hollow this year 32 players broke par for the four rounds, at Oakmont, across the 9 previous US Opens played there, a total of 27 players have broken par for four rounds.
We also have an incredible array of storylines coming into the 125th US Open.
Scottie Scheffler comes to Oakmont as the current PGA Champion and winner of 3 PGA TOUR events since the Masters, solidifying his place as World Number One, and looking to get the third leg of the career grand slam before heading to Portrush for The Open.
Rory McIlroy comes to Oakmont as the current Masters Champion, and winner of 3 PGA TOUR events this season, including victories at iconic American courses Pebble Beach, Sawgrass and Augusta. But, his for has tailed off dramatically since Augusta, highlighted by a devastating missed cut last week at the RBC Canadian Open.
2025 US Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau comes to Oakmont in tremendous form, having won in Korea and featured consistently at the top of the leaderboard in both Majors so far and the last five LIV Golf events.
2021 US Open Champion Jon Rahm comes to Oakmont having just recorded his 20th consecutive top-10 finish on the LIV Golf League, and was right there with a chance to win in the PGA Championship until the final four holes. Joaquin Niemann comes to Oakmont off the back of a fourth win in the LIV Golf League this season, and having posted his best ever Major result at the PGA Championship. Ryan Fox, Ludvig Aberg, Sepp Straka, Min Woo Lee, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton and Hideki Matsuyama all come to Oakmont with wins under their belts this year, each demonstrating a range of good and poor form at the moment.
Some other intriguing things to note at the 125th US Open include:
OLDEST & YOUNGEST – Phil Mickelson turns 55 on June 16, one day after the championship’s final round, and is the oldest player in this year’s U.S. Open field. He is a six-time U.S. Open runner-up. Mason Howell, a 17-year-old amateur, in the youngest. Trevor Gutschewski, the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, is age 18.
FIELD FOR THE AGES – There are 12 players in the 2025 U.S. Open field who will be 21 years old or younger when the first round begins on Thursday, June 12. Nick Dunlap, who along with Tiger Woods are the lone players to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur titles, is among that group. Dunlap won the 2021 Junior and 2023 Amateur.
There are 13 players in the field who are 40 or older, including seven major professional champions. Phil Mickelson, 54, has captured six major titles. Dustin Johnson, 40, claimed the 2016 U.S. Open and 2020 Masters. Lucas Glover, 45, Justin Rose, 44 and Gary Woodland, 41 won the 2009, 2013 and 2019 U.S. Opens, respectively. Adam Scott, 44, was a Masters winner in 2013.
The average age of the 156-player field is 30.66.
INTERNATIONAL GROUP – There are 26 countries represented in the 2025 U.S. Open. The United States has 86 players in the field, while England has 12 and Australia has 6.
Countries with players in the field – United States (89), England (12), Australia (6), Japan (5), Republic of Korea (5), Canada (4), Denmark (4), Mexico (4), South Africa (4), France (3), Italy (3), Spain (2), Sweden (2), Argentina (1), Austria (1), Belgium (1), Cayman Islands (1), Chile (1), Colombia (1), Republic of Ireland (1), New Zealand (1), Northern Ireland (1), Norway (1), Scotland (1), Venezuela (1) and Zimbabwe (1).
RETURNEES FROM 2024 – Bryson DeChambeau, the defending U.S. Open champion, is one of 76 players in this year’s field who competed in the 124th championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. DeChambeau is also among the last 10 major professional champions returning, including Scottie Scheffler (2022 & 2024 Masters, 2025 PGA), Xander Schauffele (2024 Open, 2024 PGA), Brian Harman (2023 Open), Wyndham Clark (2023 U.S. Open), Brooks Koepka (2023 PGA) and Jon Rahm (2023 Masters).
FIRST TIME AT THE U.S. OPEN – There are 44 players in the 2025 championship field who are playing in their first U.S. Open. Ben Griffin, who tied for eighth in this year’s PGA Championship, has won twice on the PGA Tour in 2025. He has posted seven top-10 finishes overall, including runner-up in the Memorial Tournament. Laurie Canter is a two-time winner on the DP World Tour, including this year’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship in a playoff. Jose Luis Ballester, who recently turned professional, became the first Spainard to win the U.S. Amateur, held at Hazeltine National in 2024.
List of First-Time U.S. Open Players (44): Jose Luis Ballester, Zach Bauchou, a-Evan Beck, Chandler Blanchet, Jacob Bridgeman, Laurie Canter, Will Chandler, Trevor Cone, Alistair Docherty, George Duangmanee, Emilio Gonzalez, Ben Griffin, a-Trevor Gutschewski, Grant Haefner, a-Frankie Harris, a-Justin Hastings, Joey Herrera, a-Mason Howell, Chase Johnson, Matthew Jordan, Johnny Keefer, a-Noah Kent, George Kneiser, a-Jackson Koivun, Jacques Kruyswijk, Frederic Lacroix, Joakim Lagergren, a-Michael La Sasso, a-Bryan Lee, Riley Lewis, Ryan McCormick, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, James Nicholas, Niklas Norgaard, Harrison Ott, Trent Phillips, a-Zach Pollo, a-Lance Simpson, Yuta Sugiura, a-Cameron Tankersley, Kevin Velo, Scott Vincent, a-Matt Vogt, a-Tyler Weaver
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE – Matt Vogt, 34, worked as a caddie at Oakmont Country Club. He is originally from nearby Cranberry Township and attended Seneca Valley High School. He now lives in Indianapolis, Ind., where he is a practicing dentist and oral surgeon. He played golf at Butler University and later earned his DDS in dental surgery from Indiana University. Vogt was the medalist in the Walla Walla, Wash., final qualifier on June 2 with rounds of 68 and 68. He was one of four players to advance from the Columbus, Ind., local qualifier on April 25. He shot 67 at Otter Creek Golf Course.
TRADITIONAL GROUPING – Defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, 2024 Open Championship winner Xander Schauffele and 2024 U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester will form a traditional grouping for the opening two rounds when the tee times are announced on Tuesday. DeChambeau captured his second U.S. Open title last year at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club by one stroke over Rory McIlroy. Schaufele claimed the 152nd Open Championship, conducted by The R&A, at Royal Troon, his second major title in 2024. Ballester, who turned professional this week, won the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club. He is the first Spainard to win the championship.
THE ORTIZ BROTHERS – Carlos and Alvaro Ortiz, of Mexico, will be in the field this week at Oakmont Country Club. Carlos (Dallas, Texas) and Alvaro (Durham, N.C.) each advanced through final qualifying. The brothers are playing in the same U.S. Open for the second time, having also competed in 2021 at Torrey Pines. Carlos, 34, will make his fifth U.S. Open start. He won the PGA Tour’s Houston Open in 2020 and recorded his first LIV Golf League victory in 2024. Alvaro, 29, has five top-25 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour this season, including a tie for third in the Advent Health Championship. Alvaro, the 2019 Latin America Amateur champion, owns a victory on PGA Tour Latinoamerica. Edoardo and Francesco Molinari competed in last year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
BROTHER & SISTER – Min Woo and Minjee Lee, of Australia, will compete in the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally in the same year for the fourth consecutive time. Minjee, 29, tied for 22nd in the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills on June 1. Minjee is a two-time USGA champion, having won the 2012 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 2022 U.S. Women’s Open. A 10-time LPGA winner, she has played in 12 U.S. Women’s Opens. Min Woo, 26, joined his sister as a USGA champion when he won the 2016 U.S. Junior Amateur. They are the only siblings to have claimed USGA Junior titles. He is playing in his fifth U.S. Open, with his best finish at tie for fifth in 2023 at The Los Angeles Country Club. Min Woo has won on both the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.
Note – Riki and Yui Kawamoto, of Japan, are playing in the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open for the second consecutive year.
ALL IN THE FAMILY – The Summerhays family has made their share of U.S. Open starts. Preston Summerhays, the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur champion and member of the victorious 2023 USA Walker Cup Team, will compete in his third U.S. Open, but first as a professional. He is the son of former PGA Tour player Boyd, the nephew of PGA Tour player Daniel and the great nephew of Bruce, who won three PGA Tour Champions events. Daniel tied for eighth in 2016 at Oakmont, one his four U.S. Open appearances. Bruce also played in four U.S. Opens, with his best finish a tie for 65th in 1974. Preston’s younger sister, Grace, qualified for the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.
ALMA MATER – Brian Harman, the co-runner-up in the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills and 2023 Open champion, leads a group of eight University of Georgia alumni who are in the 2025 U.S. Open field. Jon Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion at Torrey Pines Golf Course, is among four players from Arizona State University competing. Alabama, California, Oklahoma State, Texas and Virginia also have four players in the 156-player field.
Colleges with Most Players in 2025 U.S. Open
8, Georgia (W. Chandler, H. English, B. Harman, R. Henley, C. Kirk, T. Phillips, S. Straka, D. Thompson)
4, Alabama (B. Cauley, N. Dunlap, D. Riley, J. Thomas)
4, Arizona State (J. Ballester, P. Mickelson, J. Rahm, P. Summerhays)
4, California (B. An, J. Hahn, M. Kim. C. Morikawa)
4, Oklahoma State (Z. Bauchou, V. Hovland, R. Neergaard-Petersen, S. Stevens)
4, Texas (D. Ghim, S. Scheffler, J. Spieth, J. Vegas)
4, Virginia (G. Duangmanee, B. James, B. Lee, D. McCarthy)
LAST ONES IN – The final five spots in the U.S. Open field were filled by alternates from final qualifying on May 19 and June 2.
Takumi Kanaya will compete in his third U.S. Open. He was the first alternate from the Canada qualifying site. The 27-year-old from Japan owns two top-20 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. He has claimed seven Japan Golf Tour events, including the 2023 BMW Tour Championship Mori Building Cup. In 2020, he was exempt after receiving the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s leading male in the WAGR®. Last year, he advanced from the Dallas, Texas, final qualifier.
Doug Ghim, of Arlington Heights, Ill., is playing in his second U.S. Open. The 29-year-old was the first alternate from the Dallas, Texas, qualifier. He fired a second-round 66 and was involved in a 7-for-1 playoff to gain his spot. Ghim has three top-25 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. A 2018 Ben Hogan Award winner while playing at the University of Texas, Ghim was the runner-up in the 2017 U.S. Amateur and 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links, and helped the 2017 USA Walker Cup Team to victory.
Columbus, Ohio, qualifiers in Cameron Young and Bud Cauley obtained exempt status based on the current Official World Golf Ranking®/OWGR®. Therefore, Chase Johnson and Eric Cole earned berths in the field as the first and second alternates, respectively, from that site. Johnson, who will make his first U.S. Open start, advanced through both local and final qualifying. The 29-year-old from Boynton Beach, Fla., has played in six PGA Tour Americas events this season. In 2024, the Kent State graduate competed in four tournaments on both the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour. Cole, 37, of Tequesta, Fla., will play in his fourth U.S. Open, with his best finish a tie for 39th in 2023 at The Los Angeles Country Club. He has two top-10 results on the PGA Tour this season. His father, Bobby, played in seven U.S. Opens, and his mother, Laura Baugh, won the 1971 U.S. Women’s Amateur.
Riki Kawamoto is playing in his second consecutive U.S. Open. He was the first alternate from the Japan qualifier. He carded a 36-hole score of 135 (9-under) and was involved in a 4-for-1 playoff. He claimed the first of his two Japan Golf Tour victories in 2022 when he won the Sansan KBC Augusta. His sister, Yui, tied for 36th in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally at Erin Hills.
ON TOUR – Rory McIlroy, the Masters Tournament champion, and Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion, have each won three times on the PGA Tour this season. Sepp Straka and Ben Griffin have each claimed two PGA Tour victories. Joaquin Nieman is a four-time LIV Golf League winner.
All of the above creates an allure, an intrigue and an appeal to this US Open, and I for one could not have greater anticipation for this week, especially when contrasting my lack of enthusiasm for the PGA Championship. The past editions of the US Open at Oakmont have provided drama, excitement and the kind of championship we just do not see in regular golf around the world, hopefully this week is no different.
The 125th US Open is Live on Sky Sports Golf in the UK at the following times:
Thursday 11.30am
Friday 11.30am
Saturday 3pm
Sunday 3pm
BBC Radio 5 Live will have live audio coverage of the final round from 9pm on Sunday.
Off on a slight tangent, a US Open at Oakmont rekindles memories of my season working at Gleneagles in 2007. The 2007 US Open was played on the Pennsylvania course, and Angel Cabrera edged Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk to win his first Major title. I was working in the golf shop in the Dormy Clubhouse, and they were showing the Sky coverage in the bar of the staff accommodation, but with the round finishing after the bar had closed I had to listen to the closing stages on Radio 5 Live in my bedroom. Whilst watching golf is by far the best option, there is something special about listening to the sport being described on radio, and I have listened to three truly great US Opens on the radio - 1999 at Pinehurst, 2006 at Winged Foot and 2007 at Oakmont.
By whatever medium you follow this US Open it is set to be one for the ages.
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