‘Borderline unplayable’: Inside Adam Scott’s final round US Open meltdown at a brutally tough Oakmont course

Adam Scott was in contention in the final round of a wild US Open, but a crucial moment on the back nine ended his hopes of a second major championship. This is how it all fell apart for the Australian.

When he reflects on his heart-breaking US Open capitulation, Adam Scott might pinpoint his agonisingly close putt for par on the 15th hole as the moment his hopes of winning came crashing down.

The Aussie had scraped and scrambled through the first 14 holes, but remained in contention with a series of long, score-saving putts.

He was even in a five-way tie for the lead through 13 holes.

But he could only miss so many fairways before it started to tell on the leaderboard, and on the 14th and 15th, it finally happened.

His putter deserted him when he needed it most, as he three-putted 15 for bogey and fell away from the top of the leaderboard.

As the crucial seven-foot, par-saving putt missed by mere centimetres, the South Australian lowered his head and said, “F**k!” knowing his chances were fading away.

Seeking to break the record for the longest gap between first and second major championships 12 years after his Masters win, Scott eventually carded a nine over par 79 to drop 10 places for a share of 12th place by the end of the day.

Scott had to hit out of the rough too often. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Only two players in the 66-man field had worse fourth rounds, and one of those was poor old Philip Barbaree Jr, who went +12 for the day, and +24 for the week.

Scott’s closing round didn’t come close to his all-time choke at The Open in 2012, but for a player of his class and experience, he would have expected better.

Especially as his younger competitors finally started making shots at a brutally tough Oakmont course that was made even harder by constant rain.

Scott later admitted his missed fairways were the killer, but said the course was nearly impossible to play after torrential rain.

“Conditions were just tough,” he said. “They were tough at the start, then once the fairways were soaked, it was very hard controlling the golf ball.

“It was borderline unplayable.

“The water was so close to the surface. Like the shot I hit on 11, it’s bizarre. I just don’t know. It was like an aquaplane on the ground.

“It’s a tough call, but we played. Everyone had to deal with it.”

Adam Scott said conditions were “borderline unplayable” toward the end, when asked about Sam Burns being declined a casual water ruling at 15.

“But we played, everyone had to deal with it.” pic.twitter.com/4XMroL9w4z

— Paul Hodowanic (@PaulHodowanic) June 16, 2025

Inside Adam Scott’s US Open meltdown

Another putt drifts past the hole. Picture: Getty Images

Par 4 14th – Scott: Bogey

Scott’s tee shot sailed right and into the front lip of a fairway bunker, leaving him with no option but to chip sideways back onto the fairway.

He miscued the shot though, only just made it over a ridge near the bunker and landed in the rough, 105 yards from the hole.

The 44-year-old actually hit a brilliant shot from a tricky lie and two putted for bogey.

The hole pretty much summed up his round to that point: Moments of brilliance, overshadowed by wayward tee shots.

Par 4 15th – Scott: Bogey

His drive landed 218 yards from the hole and was in the rough to the left of the fairway, but he hit a good recovery to find the green with his second.

Scott’s long birdie putt was way too fast, sailed by the hole and he missed the par putt for his second consecutive bogey.

There was a long delay on the hole as playing partner Sam Burns argued with rules officials about water relief. The controversial call saw the American fall apart just as Scott was starting to falter.

Scott reacts to another near miss. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Par 3 16th – Scott: Double bogey

Scott hit his four iron tee shot right into the rough to the right of the green, and duffed his second to remain in the long stuff.

He finally got on the green with his third shot, but left his bogey putt to the right and fell to +5 and out of contention.

Par 4 17th – Scott: Par

Scott made par just as JJ Spaun sunk a spectacular 64 foot putt on the 18th for a birdie and his maiden major championship.

Par 4 18th – Scott: Bogey

He missed the fairway again, hit out of the rough and landed his approach seven feet from the hole.

But again, the putt just didn’t drop, leaving him with another bogey for the round.

Originally published as ‘Borderline unplayable’: Inside Adam Scott’s final round US Open meltdown at a brutally tough Oakmont course