Empire State Review Contributor 
The tee times for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club have been announced, with Rory McIlroy set to play alongside close friend Shane Lowry and 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose. The trio will tee off from hole No. 10 at 7:40 a.m. on Thursday and from hole No. 1 at 1:25 p.m. on Friday.
McIlroy aims to improve upon his previous performance at Oakmont, where he missed the cut in 2016. Reflecting on that experience, McIlroy acknowledged the course’s difficulty, stating, “I don’t really remember much about 2016. I think I just tried to erase it from the memory bank.”
Since his Masters victory in April, completing the career Grand Slam, McIlroy has faced challenges in maintaining form, finishing tied for 47th at the PGA Championship and missing the cut at the Canadian Open. He admitted to struggling with motivation post-Masters but emphasized the importance of refocusing for upcoming events, including the U.S. Open, the Open Championship at Royal Portrush, and the Ryder Cup.
In preparation for Oakmont, McIlroy endured a challenging practice round, shooting an 11-over-par 81. Despite the tough conditions, he remains optimistic, noting improvements in course conditions and emphasizing the need for strategic play, particularly staying below the hole and aiming for pars.
Lowry, who finished tied for second at Oakmont in 2016, expressed enthusiasm about the pairing, joking that he and McIlroy might be “sick of each other” by week’s end due to multiple practice rounds together. He believes the familiarity within the group could be advantageous, stating, “I love playing with Rory, and I think we’ve got a great group there with Justin Rose as well.”
Oakmont, hosting the U.S. Open for a record tenth time, is renowned for its challenging layout, featuring deep rough and fast greens. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau described the course as “cooked beyond belief,” anticipating that the winning score may be over par for the first time in seven years.
As the tournament approaches, McIlroy remains focused on delivering a strong performance, aiming to add a second U.S. Open title to his resume and further solidify his standing in the sport.
