Amid a chorus of complaints about Oakmont’s punishing U.S. Open setup–“thick rough,” lightning-fast greens, and brutal pin placement–Xander Schauffele offered an unfiltered, refreshing perspective: Oakmont was fair.
In a recent Fox News article, the two-time major winner said, “Everyone had to play the same course,” emphasizing consistency over frustration.
Same Course, Same Rules
While some players–like Shane Lowry–vented their frustration post-round (“f‑‑‑ this place”), Schauffele highlighted that the severity applied to all in the field. He admitted there were “weird breaks”, but those hazards weren’t unique to him. “You don’t have to hit it in the bunkers or the rough–you can just hit it in the fairways,” he explained. That simplicity, he believes, kept the trial “very fair.”
A rain-softened Oakmont seemed less merciless, Schauffele noted. With moisture on the fairways and greens, he believed the course offered a slightly more playable version of its typically punishing self.
“You had to golf extremely well, which is what you’re supposed to do to win a U.S. Open,” Schauffele observed, pointing to J.J. Spaun’s late surge post–rain delay as evidence of that truth.
Spectacle vs. Scoring
Schauffele hinted that fans tune in expecting struggle, not birdie fests.
“I don’t think people turn the TV on to watch some of the guys just hit like a 200‑yard shot on the green…to see a guy shooting eight over and suffer,” Schauffele said.
He’s not celebrating high scores, but he recognizes that majors thrive on drama–tests that expose the game’s best, rather than simply filling leaderboards with par‑eaters.
Oakmont’s challenge wasn’t just yardage and penalty. Schauffele remarked that it required both:
- Physical resilience: Earlier rain softened surfaces, but sharp edges around greens remained deadly.
- Mental toughness: Players needed to respond, adapt, and bite down under pressure.
Resetting at TPC River Highlands
Schauffele will take that mindset with him to the Travelers Championship this week at TPC River Highlands, where contrast rules supreme. Typical winning scores there range from -17 to -23–exactly the opposite of Oakmont’s difficulty.
According to Fox News, “the last seven winning scores have been -22, -23, -19, -13, -19, -17, and -17, a polar opposite to U.S. Open scores.”
This variety is crucial. “If you had to play Oakmont in U.S. Open conditions every week…you’d wear yourself out, and vice versa,” he said. “A mixture of both is nice. It’s healthy. I’ve never shied away from the U.S. Open challenge, and I’ve never shied away from -25 winning a tournament.”
River Highlands may be homey, but it’s no cakewalk. Schauffele noted course changes that have stiffened its challenge.
“They used to have wider fairways…they changed a couple holes to make it more difficult and less scoring-friendly,” Schauffele said. “You’re rewarded for really good shots, but there’s water on a lot of holes, there’s deep rough on some short-sided pins, a guy next to you can be shooting low, but you can be at even par not feeling great. I wouldn’t call it a layup–you still have to be playing really good golf.”
That balance–rewarding excellence without coddling–mirrors the U.S. Open philosophy Schauffele honored at Oakmont.
Xander Schauffele Defends Oakmont: “Very Fair” Conditions at U.S. Open