Rex Hoggard admits ‘it’s shocking’ what Shane Lowry has said about Oakmont as it gets ready to host the US Open

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Shane Lowry had a real chance to win the US Open at Oakmont the last time it was held there in 2016.

Lowry had a four-shot lead heading into the final round at Oakmont nine years ago, before Dustin Johnson overtook him to win the US Open by three strokes in the end.

That was a hard defeat to take for the Irishman, but he bounced back three years later by winning The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

Lowry walked in from Oakmont after just five holes during his first ever practice round there.

Then he went on to nearly win the golf tournament just a few days later.

Golf is such a strange game at times, and it has been somewhat of an up and down season for the 38-year-old so far.

Lowry has actually received some criticism recently for failing to speak to the media after missing out on the Truist Championship to Sepp Straka last month.

Now he will be keen to make up for numerous close calls in major championships by winning his first US Open this week.

Shane Lowry said to have made ‘shocking’ comments about Oakmont

Lowry is well known as being one of the more jovial players on the PGA Tour.

He is incredibly confident in his own ability, and he will fancy his chances this week on a course where he did so well nine years ago.

Ahead of the 125th US Open, Lowry spoke to reporters about his thoughts on Oakmont as a golf course, as shown on Sky Sports’ McGinley and Chamblee at the US Open programme in the UK.

He said, “It was huge. Who knows I would have done what I went on to do at Portrush in 2019 without my experience here in 2016. And I would not change what I did in Portrush for the world. That is going to be the greatest moment of my career no matter what I do for however many years.

“But coming back here I see my way around this golf course even now. I haven’t been here in a long time but I quite like it. I love coming on the property here and it’s a nice place so I’m pretty happy.“

And Rex Hoggard responded by suggesting that Lowry’s coolness when speaking about the test that lies ahead of him at Oakmont was ‘shocking’.

He said, “When you look at his confidence level on this golf course it’s shocking because it seems like nobody has confidence when it comes to this golf course.

“His last start here in Pennsylvania at the Truist, nobody is going to mistake the Philly Cricket Club for Oakmont, but he finished runner up there.

“And to your point I think he can fall back on the one thing he is doing well. Go back to 2016 and Dustin Johnson got up and down 76% of the time to win the US Open.

“The field average that week is 40%. Right now on the PGA Tour Shane Lowry is fourth in strokes gained around the green.“

Shane Lowry’s 2025 PGA Tour stats and what they mean for Oakmont

Lowry has been one of the premier ball strikers on tour this season.

Here is how his stats look so far in 2025:

If Lowry putts well at Oakmont he may well contend at the US Open this week.

Aside from the flat-stick, his game has been in superb working order in 2025.