Justin Thomas shared his candid impressions of Oakmont Country Club after inspecting the course, which is preparing to host the 2025 U.S. Open this June. The golfer addressed speculation surrounding Oakmont’s rough grass, confirming the course’s punishing conditions ahead of the major tournament.

There had been circulating rumors on social media suggesting Oakmont was experimenting with various rough grass strains to find the thickest possible growth. Thomas validated these claims during his recent visit.

“I actually went to Oakmont yesterday. I got in Monday. It’s still tough. I would say all of the rumors and everything are pretty on point,” Justin Thomas said via The Golfing Gazette.

When questioned about the challenging 299-yard par-3 8th hole, Thomas admitted he had played it from the back tees but was not a fan of the design. He acknowledged the difficulty in executing shots on that hole but recognized that all players would face the same challenge during the U.S. Open.

“I did. Yeah, that’s not my favourite hole in the world. I think you could do some other things with that. But everyone’s going to have to play the same hole and going to have to execute the same shots, and I would love four 3s on it right now if I could take it,” he added.

Coming off a tough time at the PGA Championship two weeks earlier, where he missed the cut at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club, Thomas has already begun his preparation to bounce back at the U.S. Open. His immediate focus is on honing his skills at Oakmont and strategizing for the challenges ahead.

Insights from Justin Thomas on Oakmont’s Consistent Challenge

In a discussion with reporters before the upcoming U.S. Open, Thomas reflected on Oakmont’s reputation for being a relentless venue. He suggested that in his past struggles at this course, the issue was not his lack of understanding of the layout but rather shortcomings in execution under pressure.

“Generally, this place doesn’t change very much. I think that the years I haven’t played well here, I don’t think it’s necessarily from a lack of course knowledge. It’s more of an execution standpoint,” he explained.

Thomas also noted that practice rounds at Oakmont tend to be longer than usual, making it somewhat difficult to complete all preparations within a short timeframe. To counter this, he chose to visit the course ahead of the competition week, finding it a more effective way to prepare.

Upcoming Tournaments and Preparation Strategy

Before heading to Pennsylvania for the U.S. Open in June, Thomas plans to participate in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield this week. This event will mark his first competitive appearance following the disappointment at the PGA Championship. On Thursday, May 29, he will start alongside Patrick Cantlay at 1:20 p.m. ET for the opening round.

Thomas’s early visit to Oakmont and his focus on mastering the course’s challenges demonstrate his commitment to improving his performance at one of golf’s most demanding venues. His preparations ahead of the 2025 U.S. Open reflect both his determination to rebound from recent setbacks and the respect he holds for the course’s difficulty.