From lightning fast greens to impenetrable rough: The 10 toughest US Open courses

The US Open is the toughest major of the year, but how do you define ‘toughest’? 

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after his shot on the 7th hole during the first round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills in 2017. Picture: Getty Images

The US Open has a history of throwing professional golfers into a cauldron of challenges, from lightning fast greens to impenetrable rough. It is the toughest major of the year, but how do you define ‘toughest’? There are several different criteria that can be used, from scoring averages to the number and volume of professionals’ complaints. Here’s a top 10 list that covers a broad category of difficulty

1 Longest Course — 2017, Erin Hills