The first round of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club proved to be a challenging test for the world's best golfers. Despite excellent weather conditions on Thursday, only ten players managed to finish the round under par, with the average score hovering around five over par. The standout performance of the day came from J.J. Spaun, who delivered a remarkable bogey-free round of 66, becoming only the second player to achieve this feat at Oakmont during the last three U.S. Opens, a record dating back to 2007. The only other golfer to match this accomplishment was Dustin Johnson in 2016, who went on to win his first major title that year.
Spaun's exceptional play made the demanding Oakmont course appear deceptively simple. He made his move on the front nine after starting on hole 10, carding four birdies to finish with a stunning score of 31. On the back nine, although he could not replicate his initial success, Spaun showcased his prowess on the greens by sinking six par putts from over seven feet, four of which came during his final nine holes. As he gears up for the next round, the challenge will be to maintain this level of performance on the notoriously difficult greens of Oakmont.
While Spaun thrived, some of the other top-ranked players faced difficulties. Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy, all of whom were favorites heading into the tournament, struggled with scores of 73, 73, and 74, respectively. They will need to significantly improve their games on Friday if they wish to contend for the championship.
The star performer of the day, aside from Spaun, was Jon Rahm. The 2021 U.S. Open champion skillfully navigated the challenging course to finish with a score of 69, which included a mix of 14 pars, two bogeys, one birdie, and an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole. Rahm's solid performance has propelled him to the status of betting favorite to win his second U.S. Open, overtaking Scheffler in the odds according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka, another previous U.S. Open champion, also made a noteworthy comeback. After a period of underperformance in major tournaments since his last victory at the 2023 PGA Championship, Koepka finished with a 68 after closing his round with a birdie on the 18th hole. His performance raises questions about whether the dominant Koepka, who amassed five major titles, is back to form.
Here’s a quick look at the 2025 U.S. Open leaderboard after Round 1:
1. J.J. Spaun (-4): Spaun’s remarkable front nine set the tone for his round. 2. Thriston Lawrence (-3): After a shaky start, Lawrence rallied with three birdies on the back nine. T3. Si Woo Kim, Brooks Koepka, Sungjae Im (-2): All three players delivered strong performances, with Kim humorously noting his lack of expectations. T6. Jon Rahm, Thomas Detry (-1): Rahm’s return to form has him in contention, while Detry also managed to finish under par. T11. Jordan Spieth, Russell Henley, Adam Scott, Collin Morikawa (E): A mix of inconsistent scores, yet all remain in a position to make a run. T20. Viktor Hovland (+1): Hovland showed flashes of brilliance but needs consistency. T33. Ludvig Åberg, Xander Schauffele (+2): Both players experienced ups and downs throughout their rounds. T49. Scottie Scheffler, Bryson DeChambeau (+3): Both high-profile players will need to regroup after a challenging start.As the 2025 U.S. Open progresses, all eyes will be on the players as they tackle the demanding layout of Oakmont Country Club. With several top contenders in need of strong performances, Friday's round promises to be crucial in determining who will make a push for the championship. Stay tuned for updates as the tournament unfolds.
