Justin Thomas questions officials over ‘unplayable’ US Open course

As the rain returned, play restarted and the chaos ensued, Justin Thomas was wondering if it was a good idea to be finishing the US Open in these conditions. 

Sam Burns, Adam Scott, Tyrrell Hatton and a plethora of emerging contenders from nowhere were battling away in an ultimate war of attrition during the final round at Oakmont Country Club on Sunday evening, with scores going backwards at a dramatic rate.

“Man…. This course looking a little questionable to play right now,” Thomas wrote on X, as he watched the carnage unfold.

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The American, who missed the cut this week, continued: “It’s not a difficulty thing as much as it is unplayable.

“No place in the fairways to find a dry spot, and you’re not going to drop in the rough. Nobody should be hitting out of a puddle.”

Thomas also explained just how difficult the Pittsburgh layout would be if the rain hadn’t arrived at all.

“After (kind of) playing it for 2 days, and watching over the weekend… it’s hard to express how difficult/borderline impossible Oakmont would be if it was firm,” he wrote.

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“Not even rock hard, but just the slightest bit of firmness in the greens would make it.”

So what would the winning score have been here if it had stayed dry all week?

“The rough the same length, I think it’s easily somewhere from +7 to +10,” the two-time major champion added.

“Greens would be so crusty and fast and great shots would get to a point would go to places you couldn’t even putt it close.”

Michael Kim, who did edge through to the weekend but finished on +14, suggested +6 might have been the mark.

A war of attrition indeed.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.