The 124th U.S. Open teed is underway at Oakmont Country Club, just outside Pittsburgh.

For a private golf club, Oakmont has spent so much time in the public eye that many fans feel they know it. Do they, really?

The post 7 fun facts about Oakmont only members tend to know appeared first on Golf.

Golf Channel anaylst Paul McGinley panned Rory McIlroy's "low energy" and lack of preparedness at Oakmont ahead of the 2025 U.S. Open.

The post ‘Very worrying’: TV analyst laments Rory McIlroy’s ‘low energy’ at U.S. Open appeared first on Golf.

Today’s AskMyGolfSpy question comes from Twitter (still not calling it X) follower David G., who asks:

“Do you feel with other manufacturers copying L.A.B. Golf putter designs is an admission that the tech is the best in class? Will we all be playing zero-torque putters in years to come?”

Picture this: You’re sitting in golf’s equipment war room circa 2015 and someone shows you a putter that looks like it escaped from a satellite dish factory. They tell you with a straight face that this ungainly contraption is going to revolutionize putting.

You’d probably laugh them out of the room.

Fast forward to 2025 and that same frankly bizarre-looking putter has spawned an entire industry revolution. The zero-torque phenomenon feels a bit like a mile-long fuse leading to a cargo tanker full of dynamite—a long, slow burn to get here but an absolute explosion in the market as we’ve gone from just one or two brands that almost nobody knew about offering zero(ish)-torque putters to full market penetration.

When it comes to high-performing drivers, the PING G430 MAX 10K and Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond are two of the biggest names in 2025. One is the Most Wanted Driver of the year. The other was the Most Wanted Driver of 2024 and was tested again in 2025. We put these two drivers in our head-to-head tool to see what really separates them.

Distance

On paper, the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond is the longer of the two. It averaged 237.0 yards of carry and 251.76 total yards in testing. PING’s G430 MAX 10K wasn’t far behind but didn’t quite match Callaway in total output but it’s only about three yards shorter.

Callaway gained a small edge thanks to a slightly lower spin rate (2,420 rpm versus 2,636) which helped maximize roll. Ball speed numbers were virtually identical, Callaway at 142.3 mph and PING at 142.1 mph.

Forgiveness

If forgiveness is your top priority, PING has the upper hand. The G430 MAX 10K posted one of the highest forgiveness scores in the entire 2025 test. It was especially consistent in terms of ball speed deltas and shot dispersion, producing reliable shot shapes across a range of swing speeds.

The Elyte Triple Diamond is by no means unforgiving, especially for a low-spin “Tour-style” head, but it’s simply not as consistent across mishits. If you miss the center of the face often, the PING may be the safer bet.

“Fore right!”

Yep, there goes another $5 ball into the woods. Again.

Look, I get it. Last week, you were striping drives down the middle, and now you’re playing pinball with the cart path. What the hell happened?

Most people will tell you it’s grip pressure. Or maybe you lifted your head. But honestly? Nine times out of ten, it comes down to swing path—where your club is traveling when it smacks the ball.

Think about driving to work. Sometimes you take the direct route and get there smoothly. Other times, you end up on some backroad adventure that leaves you wondering how you got so lost. Your golf swing works the same way.

Golf is already hard enough. Bad advice passed down on the range or repeated by well-meaning buddies can make it even harder. These five common swing tips sound helpful. However, they often lead golfers in the wrong direction. Let’s clear up the confusion and eliminate these five swing myths, making golf harder than it needs to be.

“Keep your head down”

The old “keep your head down” feels like it’s been around since the start of the game. Some have even simplified it to the point that’s all you need to be good at golf. While the intention is good, promoting consistent posture and focus, trying to lock your head in place can restrict your ability to rotate. It can end up hurting your swing.

What you should do instead:

Maintaining posture is the primary goal, not freezing or locking your head. Think about keeping the center of your face relatively stable and your chest rotating through impact. If you want to think about keeping your head behind the ball as your hips clear, that could be a safer swing thought.

“Don’t swing too hard”

Golfers are often told to swing “smooth” or “easy.” You’ve probably had one of those days on the course when nothing is going your way and a player partner says, “slow it down”. A smooth swing doesn’t have to mean a slow swing. Swinging with intent isn’t a bad thing.

What you should do instead:
Accelerate through the ball. Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler aren’t swinging soft; they’re just sequencing it correctly. We tested this concept of swinging harder versus swinging easier, and the harder swings resulted in a better shot.

Should you be using a blade or a mallet putter? While you probably have a preference (and a strong opinion to match), we wondered what the on-course data actually reveals.

Is one objectively better than the other?

Naturally, we turned to our friends at Shot Scope to ask what their mountains of real-world data showed and they came back with some eye-opening findings.

Statistically, it appears one style does have an advantage and one brand is leading the way – more on that below (spoiler alert: your wallet might not like what the data says).

Know your putters

Blade putters – The traditionalist’s choice with a smaller head profile and typically some form of toe hang. Think classic PING Anser or Scotty Cameron Newport designs.

When you’re getting started in golf, having the right accessories will not only help you look the part. It’ll also help you play your best golf. These five accessories are must-haves for new golfers and there are some you should avoid.

The must-haves

The following items are essential to helping you maximize your game. Don’t overlook any of these products and fight the urge to go cheap. More often than not, you get what you pay for.

A good rangefinder

The Vortex Anarch is, in my opinion, the best rangefinder. If you have the extra cash to splurge on it, by all means buy it. Right now.

If you don’t, however, the Vortex Blade Slope is a fantastic mid-level rangefinder loaded with premium features. Knowing not only the yardage to a hole but the adjusted slope will help you hit more greens. Backed by a lifetime warranty, you’ll feel a personal connection with the brand if you ever need assistance.

A quality golf glove

A quality golf glove is another must-have and Red Rooster hits the mark. Crafted from premium AAA cabretta leather and available in various styles and colors, you’ll be able to add a touch of style to represent your personality. Check out The Feather, a favorite of mine.

Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau are all at the U.S. Open trying to win the season's third major. But all eyes will be on one of the hardest golf courses in the world.

• • How Big Is an 18-Hole Golf Course?

    Average Size

    A typical 18-hole golf course covers about 125 to 150 acres of land. However, larger resort or championship courses can exceed 200 acres, especially when they include extra features like driving ranges, multiple tee boxes, practice areas, or natural reserves.

    ---

    How the Space Is Used

    The main playing areas—tees, fairways, and greens—usually take up around 50 to 60 acres.
    The rough around the fairways might add another 25 to 30 acres.
    Water hazards and sand bunkers can use up 5 to 10 acres, depending on the course design.
    Trees, natural areas, and out-of-play zones might account for 15 to 20 acres.
    Add in cart paths, clubhouses, maintenance buildings, and parking, and you get another 10 to 20 acres on top.

    ---

    Why It Matters

    Golf courses are more than just places to play—they're massive landscapes that often include wildlife habitats, walking paths, and even water drainage systems. Managing one requires ongoing work: mowing, watering, landscaping, and environmental stewardship.

    ---

    To Visualize the Space

    An average course of 150 acres is roughly the size of 113 football fields, three Disneylands, or enough land to fit over 500 suburban homes.

Despite calls from golfers to expand the checking of drivers across the field, USGA CEO Mike Whan says the governing body has no plans to change the way it conducts testing.

A very strong field and an extremely difficult course can't stop bookmakers from making Scottie Scheffler a historic favorite for the 125th U.S. Open. His incredibly short odds also aren't preventing bettors from backing him en masse.

The USGA kept the prize fund for this week's U.S. Open at $21.5 million, on par with the 2024 championship. It remains the most lucrative purse of the major championships.

During his 2025 U.S. Open press conference, Scottie Scheffler explained the bizarre reason he had to get rid of Venmo: fans paying him.

The post The strange reason Scottie Scheffler had to delete Venmo appeared first on Golf.

Our experts highlight the bets they're eyeing heading into the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.

ESPN BET odds for golfers to win, finish top-5, top-10, top-20 and make the cut at 2025 U.S. Open.

Howell is a high school junior from Georgia who shot 63-63 in qualifying to get into the field. How did he get here, and what is he hoping for from the biggest week of his golfing career.

Three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods says this week's major at Oakmont "favors long hitters" and the ability to control "shorter iron" shots.

Sometimes the best upgrades are the ones that don’t cost you anything extra.

That’s exactly what Rapsodo has delivered with the addition of attack angle and swing path measurements to its MLM2PRO launch monitor. A simple app update (v 2.17.5) and firmware refresh (3.8.59) unlocks two metrics that have traditionally been reserved for significantly more expensive systems.

For golfers already using the MLM2PRO, it’s like finding twenty bucks in your jacket pocket. For those considering a launch monitor purchase, it further solidifies the MLM2PRO’s position as the best value in consumer launch monitors under $1,000.

What are attack angle and swing path?

Attack angle measures whether your club is moving upward or downward at impact, expressed in degrees. Positive numbers indicate an upward strike while negative numbers show a downward blow. With a driver, most golfers benefit from a slightly upward attack angle (around +2 to +5 degrees) to maximize distance. With irons, a slightly downward attack angle (around -2 to -4 degrees) helps create solid contact and proper trajectory.

Swing path tracks the direction your clubhead is traveling relative to your target line at impact. A path of 0 degrees means you’re swinging directly down the target line. Positive numbers indicate an inside-out path (good for draws), while negative numbers show an outside-in path (often associated with fades and slices).