9 quotes through 2 rounds that sum up the Oakmont beast
The U.S. Open is undoubtedly golf's toughest major championship test; that ramps up even further when Oakmont Country Club plays host.
The Pittsburgh-area course is known as the stiffest challenge on the U.S. Open rotation, and that's once again proven to be true at this year's event.
Only three players are under par through the opening two rounds of play, significantly less than the 10 under par last time Oakmont hosted in 2016.
The bloated scores meant there were plenty of exasperated players coming off the course, with some offering some intriguing quotes about the layout.
Here are some of the best through two rounds.
"Honestly, I don't even know what I'm doing on the course." - Si Woo Kim (+2)
The Presidents Cup team stalwart has long been one of golf's most interesting quotes, and that proved true once again after his opening round Thursday. Kim shot an impressive 2-under 68 on the day, although you'd never know it from his comments afterward.
"You shoot four level-par rounds, you're walking away with a medal and a trophy." - Robert MacIntyre (+3)
MacIntyre set down a modest target after walking off the course with an even-par 70 on Thursday. The Scottish standout predicted that level par would win the championship, a number that'd be four shots worse than Dustin Johnson's winning score in 2016.
"I'm sick, just like everyone else. I don't mind if it's playing tough." - Xander Schauffele (+6)
There's been nobody better in the last eight U.S. Opens than Schauffele. His worst finish since his debut in 2017 was a tie for 14th, and he has top-10 showings in each of the other events. Perhaps it's no surprise that he's fully signed on for the most intense challenge the USGA can present.
"It could be a bloodbath out here if it suddenly starts to blow." - Thomas Detry (+2)
The scoring at Oakmont has been difficult, even without much wind. Detry offered a dire outlook should it start to blow this weekend. The Belgian will be hoping against that as he's played strongly to sit at 2-over with 36 holes to play.
"It was a brutal test of golf." - Bryson DeChambeau (+10, missed cut)
The defending champion didn't sugarcoat things after his opening-round 73 on Thursday. DeChambeau failed miserably on the greens, with zero putts made over seven feet in Round 1. It didn't get much better in Round 2 as he crashed out with a shocking missed cut.
"Everyone seems like they're exhausted when they come in off the course, just because it's a punch in the face." - Denny McCarthy (+4)
If it's possible for a course to be violent, Oakmont might just be the one. McCarthy painted that picture during his Friday press availability after he posted a 4-over through 36 holes.
"Honestly, I'm too annoyed and too mad right now to think about any perspective. Very frustrated." - Jon Rahm (+4)
Rahm's ball-striking this week has been championship worthy. However, his putting has been a mess. The two-time major winner is third in approach this week but 143rd of 156 players in putting. Just seven strokes off the pace, he could be a threat on the weekend if he can get anything going with the putter.
"Yeah, I just got U.S. Opened right there" - Viktor Hovland (-1)
Hovland - who's one of just three players under par through two rounds - offered a new descriptive term to the masses Friday after his round: getting "U.S. Opened." Hovland was referring to a diabolical lie he found himself with under the lip of a bunker despite his drive being just a few yards offline. He'd eventually make a double-bogey on the hole, but he recovered with a number of birdies to sit alone in third.
"Smash" - Rory McIlroy (+6)
OK, McIlroy didn't actually say "smash," but he definitely made the noise when he hammered a tee block with his 3-wood following an errant drive on the 17th hole. We'd love to include an actual quote from the Masters champion here, but he declined to speak to the media for the sixth straight round at a major championship. McIlroy made two late birdies to ensure he'd play the weekend and avoid his first back-to-back missed cuts since 2012, but he'll be nine strokes back entering Round 3.