U.S. OPEN

Hole of the Day, Round 3: Par-4 2nd

By Ron Driscoll

| Jun 13, 2025

In 2023, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner completed a restoration of Oakmont Country Club, using old photographs and the club’s archives in an effort to bring the layout back to the original design philosophy of club founder Henry C. Fownes and his son, William Fownes Jr., an effort that included reconfiguring fairways, repositioning bunkers and restoring areas of putting greens that had been lost over time. For Round 3, Brent Paladino of the USGA setup team highlights No. 2, a 346-yard par 4.

“Hole 2 is a fantastic illustration of the changes made by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner,” said Paladino. “The fairway configuration presents you with many options – either an iron off the tee short of several fairway bunkers, a fairway wood or hybrid between the bunkers, or a driver over the last cross bunker, which requires a 305-yard carry.

“Saturday’s hole location is 22 paces on and 4 from the left, which puts it in an area of the green that was restored by Hanse. It will be tucked behind the left bunker in an area of the green that will require precise distance control. Whether players lay back with an iron or hit driver, they will want to favor the right side of the fairway for a better angle.

“Being closer to the green isn't necessarily an advantage, as it will leave a delicate pitch shot over a bunker that requires some spin on the ball. While the hole measures only 346 yards, it has played as the sixth-hardest so far, showcasing the brilliant design that emphasizes so many attributes besides length alone.”