US Open Oakmont Challenges Top Golfers, McIlroy Makes Cut Amid Struggles

The 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club has proven to be one of golf's most punishing tests, with Rory McIlroy battling both the course's brutal setup and his own frustrations to make the cut by a narrow margin. Despite a promising start, McIlroy’s back-nine collapse, marked by multiple bogeys and a double bogey on the demanding par-three eighth, left him struggling to maintain composure, even leading to moments of visible anger such as throwing clubs and breaking a tee marker. High-profile players like defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson, and Shane Lowry also succumbed to the course's relentless challenges, with only a handful of players remaining under par, led by Sam Burns. Oakmont's difficulty was underscored by the widespread struggle to make even short putts and the mental toll evident in players’ reactions, with McIlroy notably refusing media interaction for multiple major rounds. The course's unforgiving nature has turned the tournament into a true test of skill and nerve, reshaping expectations as precision and mental toughness have outshone pedigree. McIlroy, while far off the lead, retains a fighting chance amid the relentless pressure and unpredictable conditions.