Even before the tournament began, Justin Thomas knew the extreme challenge Oakmont would present at this week’s 2025 U.S. Open. But the historic course decided to teach Thomas that lesson again on Friday, where the two-time major champion collapsed on his first nine, highlighted by an ugly four-putt from short range.
But Thomas’ troubles began before, and lasted long after, his shocking putting performance on the par-5 12th hole.
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Thomas began the second round on Oakmont’s back nine on Friday. Coming off a six-over 76 in Round 1, he needed some things to go his way to get back into the hunt, or at least to make the cut.
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But things started going the other away soon after his round began. His first bogey came at the short par-4 11th hole, when his tee shot found a native area and required a penalty drop.
Thomas also lost a stroke at 15 and another at 18, though he did earn one birdie at 14. But two double bogeys scarred his scorecard further.
The second double came at the par-3 16th, where Thomas took three strokes to safely reach the putting surface, leading to a 5. The first, though, came when disaster struck at the 12th.
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The greens at Oakmont are no joke. They are as fast as greens get in pro tournaments, cracking 15 on the stimpmeter. They play even faster for members, but that’s another story.
They also feature more pitch than virtually any other course on which the pros compete.
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When Thomas arrived at the par-5 12th green, though, he must have been feeling good. He was staring down a 22-foot putt for birdie. Every player is happy with par on every hole this week, and it appeared Thomas was going to settle down with one of them after a quick two-putt.
But there’s no such thing as a guaranteed two-putt at an Oakmont U.S. Open. Thomas’ first putt looked good but narrowly missed the cup and ran 3 1/2 feet past the hole.
He went through his routine, then set up over his short par putt, only to watch in horror as it hit the edge of the cup and lipped out to the left. It stopped over 2 feet from the hole. It wouldn’t be the last time.
Thomas’ next putt for bogey caught the edge again, lipping out to the right side another 2 feet. Fortunately, he was able to knock his third short putt in, giving him a double-bogey 7. Watch it below.
His first double of the day dropped Thomas to nine over for the tournament. When he walked off 18 to make the turn, he had 41 strokes on the scorecard and had fallen to 12 over.
