10 final takeaways from U.S. Open at Oakmont

The 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont delivered drama, heartbreak and a few historic moments, with LIV Golf players squarely in the mix at Oakmont Country Club until the bitter end. Here are 10 takeaways that defined the championship from a LIV Golf perspective:

1. LIV Golf’s Impressive Showing

The LIV Golf League made a strong statement at Oakmont. Tyrrell Hatton and Carlos Ortiz contended until the final holes, while Jon Rahm charged to a top-10 finish. Brooks Koepka (T12) and Patrick Reed (T23) also performed solidly. With only 14 of the 156 players in the field, LIV Golf secured three top 10s, four top 15s, and five top 25s.

LIV Golf players also had some of the lowest scores over the weekend. In round three, LIV Golf players shot 3 of the 4 lowest rounds. Ortiz’s 67 was tied for low round of the day. Hatton and Leishman both shot 68. In Round 4, Rahm's 67 tied for the low round of the day.

2. A Heartbreak for Hatton

Tyrrell Hatton delivered an impressive T4 finish at the U.S. Open, a career-best major result that secured exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Open and Masters. Hatton’s steady play at Oakmont for the majority of Sunday’s final round was a masterclass in resilience, as he held steady while his competitors slowly but surely tumbled down the leaderboard.

As he stood on the 17th tee tied for the lead, the Legion XIII star had his closest opportunity to win a major championship. But while Hatton missed his drive on the correct side of the 313-yard par-4 – one of the most scorable holes on the course – his ball landed in a difficult position. “If you're going to miss the 17th with that pin, you have to miss it right. I did my bit. I feel like I was extremely unlucky to finish where it did,” he said after his round.

The bad break led to a costly bogey that dropped him out of the lead. Now, he can only wonder what could have been. Hatton, at 33, knows major opportunities are rare and fleeting. His T4 is a milestone, but the near miss underscores the fine margins that can define a career.

3. Ortiz’s Breakout at Oakmont

Carlos Ortiz, seventh in LIV Golf League individual standings, delivered a ball-striking clinic at Oakmont, ranking 2nd in strokes gained approach per round (+1.93) and 3rd in strokes gained tee-to-green (+3.13). His T4 finish, a major career-high, dwarfed his previous best (T52, 2019 U.S. Open). With top 10s in three of his last four LIV Golf starts, Ortiz’s breakout was no fluke. “A really great week. Obviously when you have a chance, you really want to take advantage of it. I feel like I played good enough. I just made a few mistakes that cost me”, he said after his round. “Overall, pretty proud.”

The T4 finish was the best-ever finish for a Mexican-born player in a major championship. Otriz's performance earned him 2026 U.S. Open and Masters exemptions. The 34-year-old has only played in the Masters once before, which resulted in a missed cut in 2021.

4. Defending the U.S. Open Is a Tall Task

Bryson DeChambeau’s missed cut was somewhat shocking, given his seven straight top 10s, including a win at LIV Golf Korea presented by Coupang Play. Defending a U.S. Open title is rare. Brooks Koepka (2017-18) was the first since Curtis Strange (1988-89) to do so. Prior to that, the last player to win back-to-back U.S. Opens was Ben Hogan (1950-51). Oakmont’s thick rough and lightning-fast greens humbled the Crushers GC captain, but this is sure to be a minor setback for DeChambeau, who will undoubtedly bounce back soon.

5. Koepka’s Resurgence

After four straight LIV Golf finishes outside the top 15 and missed cuts at the Masters and PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka bounced back nicely at the U.S. Open. His opening 68 tied him for third, and a T12 finish marked his first major top 20 in eight tries. Koepka gained 2.34 strokes from tee to green per round on the week, which ranked 10th in the field. The Smash GC captain isn’t quite back to his major-dominating peak, but he's taken a step closer.

6. Phil Mickelson’s Possible Farewell

Phil Mickelson, a golf legend widely regarded among the game’s all-time greats, may have played his final U.S. Open. The HyFlyers GC captain, who’s chased the elusive U.S. Open for decades, hinted at the 2025 U.S. Open possibly being his last during his pre-tournament press conference at LIV Golf Virginia: "I haven't thought about it too much," Mickelson said. "There's a high likelihood that it will be, but I haven't really thought about it too much."

His missed cut at Oakmont, though not a fairytale ending, gave one more glimpse of Mickelson’s greatness as he held on to the hope of joining golf immortality with a career grand slam. Mickelson’s quest for the U.S. Open will be defined by six runner-up finishes from 1999 to 2013, which encapsulate both his brilliance and his flaws. For the 55-year-old to get another U.S. Open start, he will need to earn an exemption through qualifying, winning a major (as he is exempt for the other three), the LIV Golf standings, or a rare special invite from the USGA.

7. Rahm’s Putter Betrayal

Jon Rahm was one of the best players in the field all week from tee to green. For the tournament, the Legion XIII captain ranked 5th in strokes gained approach and 14th in strokes gained off the tee. On Thursday, Rahm had one of the best driving performances of his career. He gained 3.49 strokes putting on the round, which ranked first in the field. However, a balky putter cost him a chance to contend for his second U.S. Open title. Rahm ranked 69th in putting for the week, and the putter was especially detrimental on Friday, where the Spaniard ranked 142nd of 156 players in strokes gained putting.

In the final round, Rahm shot a stellar 3-under 67, which vaulted him into the solo clubhouse lead for over four hours.

Despite the relative disappointment of not getting into contention, Rahm’s sportsmanship shone through, greeting Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton after his round. The Spaniard’s top-10 finish shows promise, but his putter must cooperate for a major-winning return.

8. Niemann’s Major Struggles

Hopes were high for Joaquin Niemann to get into true contention in a major championship for the first time in his career, but it was not to be at Oakmont. The Torque GC captain and winningest player in league history was coming off yet another victory the week prior at LIV Golf Virginia and looked poised for a strong week. However, the Chilean missed the cut after posting a score of 10 over his first two rounds, three shots off the cutline. Niemann took a step forward with his T8 finish at the PGA Championship, but the missed cut at the U.S. Open represents a step back.

“Yeah, I do think [need a major],” he said. “The majors are a big stage for both tours to prove you can have consistency throughout the year. I haven’t felt like I’ve really been contending [in majors] yet, so yeah, that might help to think I’m one of the best players in the world. I feel like that’s something that’s eventually gonna happen,” Niemann said earlier this year at LIV Golf Miami. The 26-year-old has all the tools and plenty of time to get it sorted out but knows he needs to perform better in majors going forward as one of the best players in the world.

9. Patrick Reed’s Rare Feat at Oakmont

Patrick Reed etched his name in U.S. Open history with a spectacular albatross on the par-5 fourth hole during the first round at Oakmont. From 286 yards, the 4Aces GC star’s 3-wood landed short, hopped twice, and rolled into the cup, marking only the fourth albatross in the tournament’s 125-year history. Reed, who didn’t see the ball drop, said it is “cool to have memories like that,” adding to his 2020 ace at Winged Foot, which as far as I can find, makes him the only player with both an albatross at Oakmont and an ace at Winged Foot. Reed produced a solid T23 finish, with a final-round even-par 70, redeeming his 2016 missed cut at Oakmont, which was his only ever missed cut in a U.S. Open.

10. Statistical Standouts

Tyrell Hatton: Fourth in the field in strokes gained approach (+1.71 per round), sixth in greens in regulation (74%).

Carlos Ortiz: Second in the field in strokes gained approach (+1.93 per round), first in greens in regulation (79%).

Jon Rahm: Eleventh in the field in strokes gained off the tee (+1.00 per round), eighth in strokes gained approach, second in greens in regulation (75%).

Brooks Koepka: Ninth in the field in strokes gained off the tee (+1.01 per round), eighth in strokes gained around the green (+1.00 per round).

Patrick Reed: Fifth in the field in fairways hit (68%).

Marc Leishman: Ninth in the field in strokes gained putting (+1.20 per round).