As the U.S. Open returns to the historic Oakmont Country Club, players and fans alike are bracing for a familiar headache—mud balls. After soggy conditions marred the Masters and PGA Championship, concerns are growing that weather could again shape the narrative.
Jordan Spieth didn’t hold back after Augusta, blaming his poor iron play on muddy balls that ruined shot control. “It’s just so frustrating,” he admitted, voicing what many players felt but few openly say. The lack of a ‘preferred lies’ rule left pros battling both the course and the elements.
Scottie Scheffler, fresh off his PGA Championship win, echoed Spieth’s frustrations. He contrasted the firm turf of links golf with softer American courses, suggesting fairway shots should never come with such unpredictable penalties. “It’s just part of it,” he said, though not without frustration.
Xander Schauffele added to the chorus, hinting at locker-room tension over course conditions. “All of us feel it,” he said, underlining a shared desire for fairness. With rain again in the forecast, all eyes will be on Oakmont—and whether the mud returns to steal the spotlight.
