Last time the US Open was held here in 2016, only four players broke par and in 2007, the winning score by Angel Cabrera was at five over.
While not quite that penal yet, this tournament does look like living up to its self-proclaimed billing as “the toughest test in golf”.
There were more than double the number of bogeys to birdies on day one and, with the course drying out, greens getting faster and the wind yet to bare its teeth, it should certainly get harder.
The world’s top two won 2025’s first two majors but entered this in contrasting form – McIlroy having spectacularly missed the cut in Canada last week, while Scheffler has been imperious.
McIlroy, who missed the cut in 2016, initially looked good, with two birdies in his first three holes, including striking the longest drive of his season, a mammoth 392 yards at the 12th (his third).
But Oakmont bit back on his second nine.
Driving the ball into the five-inch deep rough off the par-five fourth fairway, he needed three shots to escape and only a remarkable 30-foot putt limited the damage to a bogey.
Further shots went at his 15th and 16th holes before a first taste of the enormous par-three eighth – playing at 276 yards – cost him a double bogey.
Equally, Scheffler was far from his metronomic best, turning at two over par and then bogeying 13 and 15 on the way home.
Winner in 2011, McIlroy has finished runner-up in the past two US Opens – in heartbreaking fashion last year after missing two short putts when leading in the closing stages – and has made the top 10 for six straight appearances.
While yet to win this tournament, Scheffler does boast three top-seven finishes but both have much work to do as the course toughens up.
