Oakmont has proven to be a tough test for the field this week at the US Open.
Through 54 holes, just four players sit under par, with Oakmont showing once again why it has a reputation as one of golf’s most demanding venues.
That said, it’s been a fair challenge overall. Early in the week, there was talk that an over-par score might win, but Saturday’s play suggests otherwise.
Still, at nearly 7,400 yards with thick rough and firm greens, Oakmont has been anything but forgiving.
Even Scottie Scheffler, the world’s top-ranked player, has shown signs of frustration – highlighting just how tough the course is playing.
There has also been some criticism about slow play this year, with rounds stretching close to six hours.
Despite the pace, there has been plenty of drama and a few standout performances – though not all have come without setbacks.
One of the most notable moments on Saturday came when a player suffered an injury that nearly forced him to withdraw.
Michael Kim praises playing partner on US Open day three
Michael Kim had plenty of praise for Corey Conners after their third round at Oakmont.
Kim, who made the cut on the number with rounds of 75 and 71, struggled to a 76 on Saturday but was more interested in talking about his playing partner, Corey Conners, than his own score.
The 31-year-old was left seriously impressed by what he saw the Canadian do during that round.
According to Kim, Conners was striping it early but ran into trouble on the back nine after plugging a bunker shot and injuring his wrist.
Conners ended up shooting a two-over 72, but it could have been much better if not for the injury and some bad luck on the back nine.
After the round, Kim had high praise for the Canadian:
“Corey Conners deserves a full page on his own today. The dude STRIPES it. Little draw, didn’t miss a shot on the front nine and he missed a short one on 3 so could have been even lower. Pretty easy 3 under.”
“But then he plugged his bunker shot and while trying to hit out of it, hurt his wrist. He was obviously in some pain as soon as he hit it and I didn’t think he’d play more honestly. It took like 20 minutes for his physio to get to the green (don’t get me started on that terrible process).”
“He gutted it out but was def out of rhythm coming in. Lots of wrists getting worked on this week after multiple shots of trying to get through this thick rough.”
Do Conners’ stats back up Kim’s comments at the US Open?
At 33, Conners has certainly carved out a tidy reputation as one of the most consistent ball-strikers on the PGA Tour. His stats from the past three seasons really highlight just how steady his performance has been:
| Stats | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Strokes gained off the tee | 10th | 21st | 11th |
| Strokes gained approach | 54th | 3rd | 21st |
| Strokes gained total | 21st | 14th | 22nd |
The numbers underscore Conners’ remarkable consistency, though there’s been a bit of a dip in his iron play this season, which is a shame.
However, his status as an elite ball-striker remains unquestionable. Given that, he’ll no doubt be deeply disappointed not to find himself in contention for the US Open as Sunday’s final round approaches. That is properly frustrating.
The post ‘Deserves a full page’… US Open golfer suffers injury at Oakmont but impresses playing in pain appeared first on HITC.
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