Trepidation. It\u2019s the feeling of fear that causes one to hesitate, thinking something bad or unpleasant is going to happen.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also the one-word answer used by Rory McIlroy, the 2011 U.S. Open champion and third-ranked golfer in the world, to describe the prevailing emotion for players heading into the 2016 U.S Open at Oakmont Country Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week it\u2019s definitely \u2014\u00a0it\u2019s not excitement,\u201d McIlroy said Tuesday. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s definitely not that.\u201d<\/p>\n
No, Oakmont elicits reactions on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be quite the mental grind,\u201d McIlroy said after his second practice round of the week. \u201cYou expect that coming into a U.S. Open. It\u2019s the toughest test in golf, and you know that, and you have to do everything you can to prepare for that and try to do your best.\u201d<\/p>\n
The list of past winners at Oakmont reads like a who\u2019s who of some of the game\u2019s best players of the last century. Jack Nicklaus. Ben Hogan. Johnny Miller. Ernie Els.<\/p>\n
The course\u2019s history and playing conditions are why McIlroy described a potential victory Sunday as perhaps the greatest achievement of his career.\u00a0\u201cTo be able to win on a course like this with the conditions the way they are, it would probably be my \u2026\u00a0biggest accomplishment in the game. But [it] definitely would make me feel like a more complete player.\u201d<\/p>\n