The 125th US Open is set to begin at the Oakmont Country Club on Thursday Many golf stars have come out to discuss how difficult the course is to play
PGA Tour pro Zac Blair has produced what one fan has described as ‘the greatest shot in the history of golf’ on the famously difficult Oakmont Country Club course in the build-up to the US Open.
Golf stars have been taking to the course – known as the toughest to tackle in the sport – as they prepare for the 125th installment of the major, which begins on Thursday morning.
The course at Oakmont Country Club, situated in Pennsylvania, is known as the ‘Beast’ by members who play on it with regularity. Phil Mickelson once described it as the ‘hardest’ layout he’s played.
Rory McIlroy, who recently completed the golf Grand Slam by winning the Masters, has even been struggling on the Oakmont grass during practice rounds, claiming the Pittsburgh venue ‘felt impossible’ after a recent visit.
So, when a video started circulating of Blair – who is ranked 284th in the world – executing an extraordinary 122-yard putt onto the green the notoriously tough hole number one.
A clip posted by Andy Johnson, a golf fan, displays Blair impressively drilling the ball down the fairway, and it sloped perfectly onto the green into a perfect position to putt home.
US golfer Zac Blair has produced a stunning 122-yard putt while practicing for the US Open
Oakmont Country Club, which is hosting the US Open, is known as one of the world’s toughest courses
The majority of the build-up to the third major of the year has been congested with complaints from the world’s best golfers, so it’s fair to say that fans have been left stunned by the shot from Utah-born Blair.
One particularly amazed social media user, wrote: ‘No exaggeration, that might have been the greatest shot in the history of golf.’
Another’s reaction was short but sweet: ‘That’s a tremendous putt.’ Meanwhile, a different fan was left in disbelief: ‘Absurdly good [laughing face emojis]. He hit that left hand low?! Insanity.’
Not all fans were left impressed, however. Many X accounts couldn’t see what was so special about the shot.
‘Mostly luck. No pressure. The shots Rory hit in Augusta on Sunday were way more impressive than this,’ read one reply to the video.
However, I’m not sure the great McIlroy will agree with the comment.
The Masters champion was one of many taking part in the US Open to admit to struggling with the Oakmont Country Club course.
On Tuesday, the Northern Irishman – who was beaten to the title by Bryson DeChambeau last year – opened up about the difficulties he faced on a scouting mission at the course last week.
Rory McIlroy admitted that the course felt ‘impossible’ when playing on it last week
‘Last Monday felt impossible,’ McIlroy said. ‘I birdied the last two holes for 81. It felt pretty good, it didn’t feel like I played that badly [on Tuesday]. It’s much more benign right now than it was that Monday.
‘They had the pins in dicey locations and greens were running at 15.5 [on the stimpmeter]. It was nearly impossible. This morning it was a little softer. The pins aren’t going to be on 3 or 4% slopes all the time.
‘If you put it in the fairway, it’s certainly playable. But then you just have to think about leaving your ball below the hole and just trying to make as many pars as you can. You get yourself in the way of a few birdies, that’s a bonus.
‘I’m glad we have spotters out there because last Monday you hit a ball off the fairway and you were looking for a good couple of minutes just to find it. It’s very penal if you miss. Sometimes it’s penal if you don’t miss. The person with the most patience and the best attitude this week is the one that’s going to win.’
Share or comment on this article:
‘The greatest shot in the history of golf’: World No 284 produces 122-yard putt on the ‘world’s HARDEST golf course’ ahead of 125th US Open
