Oakmont Was The Real Star Says Rick Shiels

Much to the relief of all the players involved, the US Open at Oakmont has wrapped up with some property damage.  Through all the anger and tears, a winner has been declared in JJ Spaun.  With all the trouble the Oakmont has caused the players, they can finally put it behind them until the next time an event is hosted there.  However, there are grumblings that the major felt strange, and it is argued that the real main character was the infamous course itself and not the players on the field.

Rick Shiels Comments On Oakmont

Golf commentator Rick Shiels watched the major unfold, and on his podcast, The Rick Shiels Golf Show, he said it felt “very weird.”   He commented on how many things were going on and that it felt like the course was the real star.  With the focus on the course itself, he felt like the US Open was ruined for him.

“You know when there is a football match and you think you just want this to be a really good football match and you don’t want the referee to be the main character and mess this up. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they have a sending off when they shouldn’t.”  Shiels said on his show.  “That is my feeling with the US Open this week. I felt like the main character was Oakmont, and for me, it ruined it for the whole of the US Open.”

He goes on to specify that he doesn’t like seeing the players struggle their way through the US Open.  The sight of that makes him feel a bit uncomfortable.  It’s a bit like when watching a talent show and seeing an act fall apart.

It Was A Hard Watch

The weekend was full of moments where the players lost their cool.  Rory McIlroy threw his club on the Friday of the major.  Wyndham Clark was accused of damaging the lockers at the historic Oakmont Country Club.  This is a major where last year’s champion missed the cut.  At one point, other players were defending the ones who had outbursts on and off camera.  To top it all off, this was the third major this year that had rain.  No doubt giving the players more grievances while trying to just make it to the next hole.

Oakmont’s Reputation

Oakmont is a beautiful course with a gorgeous clubhouse.  The club takes pride in its history, which is evident in even the locker room.  Where the benches are covered in pits from cleats, and the lockers still have a booze box from prohibition days.  The course is also well known for being the hardest venue on tour.  It has been called unplayable, and the video of the lawn mowers was seen by the players as more of an insult than anything.  It has been called a great test of the player’s mental fortitude and has proven to bring out the worst in some.  This course should be given some thought when it comes time to renovate.  Especially when the viewers are getting uncomfortable with the course.