
Justin Thomas Thrived at Oakmont US Open as Brooks Koepka was 'Pissed Off'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
With just two days until the start of the 125th US Open, Oakmont is proving all the hype to be true. Most players have had a chance to try out the course, and they have commented endlessly about how difficult the setup is.
Naturally, some players are better prepared than others because they remember playing there before. And not all of those memories are negative. Justin Thomas, for example, recalled playing one of the best rounds of his career there.
He told this story to illustrate the extraordinary challenges Oakmont poses. He also recalled that it was a difficult time for his playing group mate, Brooks Koepka.
"One of the best rounds of golf I've probably ever played in my career in 2016 [was] here on Friday," he said.
"I think I hit four fairways, but I remember I hit seven greens and I shot 69. I chipped in three times. I was beyond exhausted when I got done."
"I actually played with Brooks [Koepka] the first two days. I remember he was so pissed off. He just couldn't get over it."
"So I would prefer to not do that, but if that means I shoot 69 every day, I'll take four fairways and seven greens right now."
Brooks Koepka of the United States speaks with jtduring a practice round prior to the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.
Brooks Koepka of the United States speaks with jtduring a practice round prior to the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 08, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.Although Thomas fondly remembers that round thanks to his score, it was by no means an easy day. The two-time major champion had seven birdies that day, but only managed to finish at 1-under, as he also carded two bogeys and two double bogeys.
Thomas shot a 73 in each of his other three rounds and finished tied for 32nd place.
As for Koepka, he carded an identical score to Thomas's during the second round (69). He struggled the day before, scoring a 75, but he did well over the weekend, carding 72-68 to finish tied for 13th.
"I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult."
Justin Thomas knows what Oakmont will be throwing at him. pic.twitter.com/sgy8CwUdli — Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) June 9, 2025
Thomas also said he is confident that he can perform well at Oakmont again, nine years later:
"I understand this place is hard. I don't need to read articles, or I don't need to hear horror stories. I've played it. I know it's difficult," he said.
"I also have faith that if I go play well and I'm driving the ball well and I'm hitting my irons like I know I can, I'm going to have a lot of birdie opportunities."
"I just need to kind of pick my spots and take the hole and the course for what I have that day kind of thing."
This will be Thomas's 11th US Open appearance. Of his 10 previous starts, he has made the cut six times and finished in the top 10 twice. His best finish has been a tie for 8th place at Winged Foot in 2020.
More Golf: US Open 2025: Odds, Predictions, Best Bets on the Board

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: OLB Xavier Thomas
We will preview every player on the Cardinals roster leading up to training camp. This is about OLB Xavier Thomas. The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team. Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook. Next up is outside linebacker Xavier Thomas. Xavier Thomas background, 2024 season The Cardinals selected Thomas from Clemson in the fifth round of the 2024 draft. After a slow start becoming comfortable in the defense, he showed flashes at times of making impact plays. In 14 games (three inactive), Thomas played 208 defensive snaps (24 percent) and also was on the field for 23 snaps on special teams (six percent). He had 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, one forced fumble and a pass defensed to go with 10 tackles (six solo, two for loss). Xavier Thomas 2025 contract details, cap hit In the second year of a four-year contract, Thomas has a base salary of $960,000 this year and a salary-cap charge of $1.053 million. 2025 questions, roster outlook The Cardinals like what they have seen from Thomas, but they hope he can make a significant jump from Year 1 to Year 2 in a spirited competition with an improved edge-rusher room. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.


USA Today
11 hours ago
- USA Today
R Mason Thomas leaning into the high expectations for the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners defensive end R Mason Thomas was one of three OU players chosen to represent the program at SEC media days on Wednesday. After a breakout campaign in 2024, where he turned into OU's best pass-rusher, Thomas is ready for the added weight of expectations in 2025. Speaking to the media this week, Thomas was asked about having a different play-caller this year. Head coach Brent Venables is taking over play-calling duties after former defensive coordinator Zac Alley left for West Virginia. Thomas believes that not much will change, as it has always been Venables' system. "It's the same thing," Thomas said. "Since 2022, my first year, when he first got here, it's the same thing. You would think it would be some kind of drop-off, but he's a defensive mind. He's always on the on defensive side of the ball, so it's the same. It's no drop-off. We don't have to change language or anything like that. It's the same playbook. With him it's always been like that. We weren't nervous. We weren't frustrated. We weren't rattled. It was the same." Thomas was also asked about the process of Venables getting his system installed over the years in Norman. "When I was getting recruited at OU, it was a lot of Clemson film," Thomas said. "I think now we ran a lot of plays like he did in Clemson. It was like we're looking at what we do now, more of -- I know my first year we were looking at Clemson a lot because we didn't have any film of us doing it. Yeah, we have so much film of us doing it now so we're watching ourselves." Thomas also spoke about the pressure and the expectations after his big 2024 season, and the pressure that comes with playing at a place like Oklahoma. He knows that the Sooners have plenty of room to improve after last year. "I don't think we in a sense have pressure," Thomas said. "We know what the standard is, what the people in the team in the past have set. So I know if we can put our head down, we can work, focus on the journey and not the destination, we'll be right where we want to be." After the NFL came calling this winter, Thomas decided to come back for one more year of college football, one more year in Venables' scheme, and the opportunity to get the bad taste of 2024 out of his mouth. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.


Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
How to Watch Venezuela vs Colombia: Live Stream 2025 Copa América Femenina, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Group B play continues on Wednesday in the 2025 Copa América Femenina as Venezuela takes on Colombia. Colombia has yet to play a match in this year's tournament, while Venezuela sits fourth in the Group B standings after losing its first match. Venezuela's midfielder #20 Dayana Rodriguez and Brazil's forward #10 Marta Vieira fight for the ball during the Women's Copa America 2025 football match between Brazil and Venezuela at the Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium in Quito... Venezuela's midfielder #20 Dayana Rodriguez and Brazil's forward #10 Marta Vieira fight for the ball during the Women's Copa America 2025 football match between Brazil and Venezuela at the Gonzalo Pozo Ripalda Stadium in Quito on July 13, 2025. More Photo by RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP via Getty Images How to Watch Venezuela vs Colombia Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Time: 7:55 PM ET Channel: FOX Sports 1 Stream: Fubo (Try for free) Venezuela opened play with a competitive 2-0 loss against Brazil. Considering how unbeatable the Brazilian side has been historically in this tournament, losing just three total games ever, it was a strong showing from the Venezuelan side. This team is looking to build on its momentum from 2022, when it advanced to the fifth-place game, its first time making it past the group stage since 1991. The team has four wins in the past two tournaments, more than it had in all other years combined. Colombia has yet to play a game in this year's tournament. Its most recent match was a friendly against Mexico earlier this month, which the team lost 1-0. The team has finished as the runners-up in three of the past four Copa América Femenina tournaments. Can it get over the hump and finally win the title? Live stream the Copa América Femenina on Fubo this year. With games airing on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2, you'll have a chance to watch many of the top women's soccer players in the world compete in the event, which takes place in Ecuador. In 2022, Brazil won its eighth title in this event while Colombia finished second. Live stream the Venezuela vs Colombia game on Fubo: Start your free trial now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.