Bryson DeChambeau, who works just as hard on his social media game as his actual golf game, recently played a U.S. Open practice round at Oakmont Country Club and posted the video on his YouTube channel, giving fans an in-depth look at the challenging setup and how he plans to attack it this week.
After watching the defending champ take on one of the toughest golf courses in the country, here's what we learned about Oakmont and the strategies players should employ at the 2025 U.S. Open.
If you're not hitting greens, you have no chance
Hitting greens and staying out of the rough are always critical at the U.S. Open, but it's especially true at Oakmont.
The United States Golf Association has grown out the rough so much that it was hard for DeChambeau even to find his ball at times. At one point in the round, the LIV Golf superstar dropped a ball in the rough to illustrate how thick it is, and he had a tough time picking it up with his hands.
On the par-3 sixth hole, DeChambeau missed the green long and could barely see his ball while standing right on top of it. He took almost a full swing from about 20 yards out and hacked his ball out to 15 feet, a result he was more than happy with. Still, the poor tee shot led to a bogey.
Bryson Dechambeau played Oakmont ahead of the U.S. Open and was surprised by how thick the rough is. Next week is looking like it’s gonna be a tough test of golf.
— Tour Pro 🏌️♂️ (@OfficialTourPro) June 5, 2025
(@brysondech /YT) pic.twitter.com/atxnVjkpsL
On the very next hole, he chunked his approach shot and plugged into the greenside bunker, leading to another bogey. In all, DeChambeau hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation, but he made bogey on three of the four holes on which he failed to find the putting surface.
Moral of the story: Hit as many greens as possible to avoid the danger lurking around every single one of them.
Bomb and gouge could be the path to victory
DeChambeau won the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot by employing the "bomb and gouge" strategy. Essentially, the plan is to hit driver on as many holes as possible, and even if you end up in the rough, you'll be close enough to the green to hit a wedge or short iron out of the thick stuff.
It sounds as if he'll be running back the same strategy for Oakmont.
"It's kinda the same strategy as Winged Foot for the most part," DeChambeau said in the video. "Hit driver where you can and be strategic where you need to be strategic."
DeChambeau hit his driver on both par-5s and 10 of the 12 par-4s during his practice round, but that doesn't tell the full story.
After hitting a 3-wood off the tee on the par-4 11th, Bryson said he should hit his driver on that hole during the tournament. The only other 3-wood he hit off the tee came on the drivable par-4 17th hole.
Scoring on the par 5s will be crucial
There aren't many birdie holes at Oakmont, so it will be paramount for players to score on the two par-5s. Even though they both measure longer than 600 yards, the fourth and 12th holes could easily decide the 2025 U.S. Open.
"This 12th hole is only one of two par-5s. You have to make a birdie here," DeChambeau said while walking up the 12th. "If you don't, you feel like you're losing almost a shot and a half in a sense. This will be a key hole for the championship."
He made par on both par-5s during his practice round, and he was visibly upset after failing to take advantage of two easier holes, muttering, "What am I doing with my life?"
DeChambeau finished the day with an even-par 70. He made five birdies and five bogeys and hit 10 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens. After finishing up the hard-fought round, he left the property with one parting thought: "Oakmont, you're a beast!"
Buckle up for a fun week ahead.