The U.S. Open teed off on Thursday morning under partly cloudy skies at the demanding Oakmont Country Club, where defending champion Bryson DeChambeau is aiming for a strong start to his title defence. Meanwhile, tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler teed off later in the day.
The honour of hitting the first shot of the championship went to amateur Matt Vogt — a full-time dentist and former Oakmont caddie — who recently secured his spot in the tournament through qualifying.
DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion who has come close in the year’s first two majors, began his round at 7:29 a.m. ET (1129 GMT). He played alongside reigning Open champion Xander Schauffele and Spain’s Jose Luis Ballester.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who has won three of his last four starts — including the PGA Championship, started later on in the afternoon and was joined by Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner, and Viktor Hovland, currently ranked 14th in the world.
Oakmont is widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in golf. The course is defined by tight fairways, ankle-deep rough, and lightning-fast greens — a setup that demands precision, mental strength, and perseverance.
Afternoon groups will face rising temperatures, expected to reach 87°F (30.6°C). Notable names teeing off later include 2016 Oakmont winner Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth.
