Golf’s elite will experience the ‘belly of the beast’ when they tackle the longest Par 3 in US Open history this week.
Oakmont, which is famously nicknamed ‘The Beast’, will play host to the third major of the year and is designed to push the best to the limit.
The stroke average during the 2016 US Open was 3.304GettyAll you need to know about 2025 US Open at Oakmont
One specific section on the 7,342-yard Par 70 course does that more than most – the monstrous Par 3 8th hole.
It is a statistical anomaly, in that it is not ranked among the hardest, though the green is the most difficult to reach in regulation.
At full length, it played as the longest par 3 in US Open history at 300 yards in 2007, only slightly dropping to 299 yards in 2016.
At that latter event, there were 24 birdies on the eighth hole, in addition to 132 bogeys and 12 double bogeys.
That may even rise at this year’s US Open, due to the fact that it will play over 300 yards, according to USGA officials.
“I promise you we’ll play it at 301 this year,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer.
During the iconic 63 that Johnny Miller carded during the final round of the 1973 US Open at Oakmont, the eighth was the lone hole he bogeyed, having three-putted.
The general strategy is tee shot to flag high and two putts for par – anything slightly left is likely to find the 100-yard long Sahara bunker.
A new cross bunker has been put in to make running the ball up even harder.
Collin Morikawa had to hit driver into the Par 3 during Monday’s practice round and that is something we’ll likely see a lot of during the tournament itself.
Shots to the left are likely to find the Sahara bunkerGetty It is the longest par three in major historyGettyThe longest par 3s in US Open history
300 yards — No. 8, Oakmont Country Club, fourth round, 2007
299 yards — No. 8, Oakmont Country Club, fourth round, 2016
299 yards — No. 7, The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course), second round, 2023
297 yards — No. 11, The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course), second round, 2023
295 yards — No. 11, The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course), fourth round, 2023
281 yards — No. 8, Oakmont Country Club, second round, 2007
281 yards — No. 8, Oakmont, second round, 2016
279 yards — No. 8, Oakmont Country Club, third round, 2007
277 yards — No. 7, The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course), third round, 2023
273 yards — No. 11, The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course), third round, 2023
272 yards — No. 7, The Los Angeles (Calif.) Country Club (North Course), fourth round, 2023
266 yards — No. 3, Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore, Pa., fourth round, 2013
264 yards — No. 2, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, N.Y., fourth round, 2018
“Yeah, I mean, it just becomes hard. I just don’t think when you have to make a hole that long, it just doesn’t become that great,” Viktor Hovland explained.
“It just becomes like, okay, you got a certain target here and then you got to hit a shot around there and make a par and get out of there instead of a shorter par-3 that entices you to get close to it, but if you’re a little bit off, you’re either in the water or in a short-sided spot or if you bail out, yeah, you still have a tricky little putt.”
“I just think all the best par-3s are under 200,” Hovland added.
“You can maybe have it just over 200, but as soon as you start to take head covers off on par-3s, I just think it gets a little silly.”
Jack Nicklaus, who won his very first major at Oakmont, doesn’t relish the challenge facing the current crop, having long since retired.
When told about the length, the 18-time major winner replied: “Well, that’s crazy. But that’s what they do. But it is downhill.
“I think it’s difficult to make a good, long par-3. I think it’s a very difficult thing to have a hole where you’re standing back, hitting a wood at a par-3.”
It’s expected to play at or even over 300 yardsGetty The newly lengthened 8th hole has incurred the ire of current players and golf legendsGettyUS Open 2025: Date and how to follow
The 125th edition of the US Open will run from Thursday, June 12, to Sunday, June 15.
The action will get underway at around 1pm UK time on the opening two days, but exact timings will follow.
talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of all the action.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
The event will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf in the UK.
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