US Open 2025 Rory McIlroy Bryson DeChambeau Struggle as JJ Spaun Leads at Oakmont
Round 1 of the 2025 US Open at Oakmont saw Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau falter after strong starts while JJ Spaun surged ahead with a bogey free 66 Get the full leaderboard and course insights .
Brutal Opening Round at Oakmont
The 125th US Open teed off on Thursday June 12 at the unforgiving Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in golf The course proved its mettle once again with players averaging a punishing 478 over par Conditions were challenging from the first tee and the leaderboard quickly reflected the brutality of the venue .
Early Contenders JJ Spaun Leads the Way
American JJ Spaun emerged as the early standout firing a bogey free 66 4 Notably he became one of the rare players to score an albatross at Oakmont during a major a feat that energized the field and stunned the spectators His round was marked by precision iron play consistent driving and ice cold putting under pressure .
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McIlroy and DeChambeau Fade After Strong Starts
Two of the sport’s biggest stars Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau began their rounds strong but could not maintain momentum .Rory McIlroy was 2 through his first nine holes starting on the back nine and smashed a 392 yard drive on the 12th hole setting up a birdie However his back nine was disastrous with a string of bogeys that led to a final score of 74 4 .Bryson DeChambeau the defending US Open champion also started hot but faltered coming home finishing with a 73 3 His game was inconsistent and frustration showed as putts slipped by and drives found trouble .
Both players once in red figures now face an uphill battle to get back into contention .
Other Big Names Struggle Too
The brutal course conditions took a toll on several marquee names .
- Scottie Scheffler the recent PGA Championship winner ended his round at even par after a steady if unspectacular showing .
- Xander Schauffele sits at 2 having battled hard but struggled to convert opportunities .
- Gary Woodland and Wyndham Clark both past major champions managed to stay under par positioning themselves well heading into the second round .
Shane Lowry had a particularly difficult day carding a 79 9 .
Course Setup Oakmont’s Renovated Bunkers
Oakmont saw minor yet impactful renovations ahead of the 2025 tournament Most notable is a repositioned bunker on the 7th fairway designed by architect Gil Hanse The bunker now challenges long hitters more directly forcing players to think carefully about placement and risk reward It’s a clear example of how Oakmont continues to evolve while maintaining its ruthless identity .
What’s Next at Oakmont
As round two approaches the cut looms at the top 60 players and ties Given the tough conditions it’s likely that even par or over par scores will be competitive heading into the weekend Historically Oakmont rarely yields to low scores in 2016 only four players finished under par and in 2007 the winning score was 5 .
Spaun’s lead at 4 may hold more weight than it would at most other majors With big names like McIlroy and DeChambeau needing to recover quickly Friday’s round is shaping up to be critical for the tournament’s biggest stars .
Round 1 Leaderboard Snapshot
Player Score Notes
| Player | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JJ Spaun | 4 | Bogey free round includes albatross |
| Multiple Players | Under par | Includes Gary Woodland Wyndham Clark |
| Scottie Scheffler | 0 | Solid start stayed out of trouble |
| Xander Schauffele | 2 | Battled hard struggled to convert |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 3 | Inconsistent play poor finish |
| Rory McIlroy | 4 | Strong start collapsed on back nine |
Closing Thoughts
Oakmont has once again shown why it’s among golf’s most feared courses As Spaun sets the pace all eyes will be on whether the sport’s biggest names can steady themselves and mount a comeback With narrow fairways brutal rough and slick greens the 2025 US Open is already delivering the high stakes drama fans expect .