Tiger Woods will not be competing in the 2025 U.S. Open due to his ongoing recovery from a torn Achilles. Yet, he shared insights on the formidable challenge that Oakmont Country Club presents for competitors.

Woods finished as a runner-up in 2007 at this venue, narrowly missing a third U.S. Open victory. “You just have to hit the golf ball well there,” Woods remarked. “There’s no faking it about Oakmont. The course is expansive, but you must execute every shot well; otherwise, a bogey is inevitable.”

He continued to explain that longer hitters may find an advantage at Oakmont due to the nature of its greens, requiring precision to stop the ball effectively on the putting surfaces. Woods emphasized the expectation for players to truly endure the difficulty of the course, which fans have come to appreciate during the U.S. Open.

For a deeper look into his perspective, you can view his video commentary on Instagram here.

In the words of Woods, “There’s no faking it.”

As Woods describes, Oakmont is designed to be a rigorous test, and success over four days will hinge on each player’s ability to handle this iconic course.