Crosby Reflects on Bringing the Stanley Cup to Oakmont

Photo Credit: Golfweek - USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

After the Penguins played the Bruins back in April, Sidney Crosby was able to catch the end of the Masters Tournament, watching Rory McIlroy complete golf’s Grand Slam in a sudden-death playoff.

“That was really cool. I mean, the way that he had to regroup and gather himself after being that close to having it after all these years, it couldn’t have been easy to refocus the way he did,” Crosby said.

“Especially with how it happened, and just all the anticipation. He’s such a big figure in golf and everybody wanted to see that moment. For it not to happen right on 18 there and to play a playoff, showed a lot of guts by him. Just a great example. And to be a champion, that's tough to get to sometimes, so that’s pretty awesome to see.”

Now, McIlroy - who is involved with Fenway Sports Group as the face of TGL's Boston Common Golf - is in western Pennsylvania to compete in the 2025 U.S. Open. The event has returned to Oakmont Country Club for the first time since 2016.

That year, Crosby and his teammates brought the Stanley Cup to the course, just days after leading the franchise to its fourth championship in franchise history. Reflecting back, the first thing that came to mind was the weather. “It was really rainy,” Crosby said.

While that made for less-than-ideal golfing conditions, it worked out well in terms of showing off the Stanley Cup. Some of the Penguins brought it into the clubhouse during a rain delay, with golfers posing for pictures.

There’s actually a fantastic shot from Swedish golfer David Lingmerth that features a photobomb from Bryson DeChambeau, then just 22 years old and improving his world ranking to 148^th after placing 15^th.

Now, DeChambeau is the defending U.S. Open champion, a major he’s won twice (also in 2020), and ranks 10^th in the world. He crossed paths with Crosby at The Match golf challenge in Big Sky, Montana in the summer of 2021.

“Just seeing him drive a golf ball was impressive enough, but I met him quick, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to see what those guys do close up,” Crosby said. “He’s a great guy, and he’s got a huge following with that YouTube stuff that he does now. It’s pretty neat that he’s doing that. Gives fans a great look at how he practices and just his personality and all that stuff. It’s pretty cool.”

While DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler and others were inside with the American-born Penguins like Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino, Crosby was out on the putting green with some other teammates. He had to laugh when thinking about one of his other memories that sticks out from the day.

“I remember we were rolling putts at the putting green, and someone kicked a beer over and spilled beer on the putting green. I was like, we should not be here doing this, you know?” Crosby grinned. “I remember just being mortified that this is the U.S. Open and guys are spilling beers on the practice green.”

Considering they were still in celebration mode from their recent victory, the group got a pass. Once the rain delay ended, watching a group that featured 2015 Open Championship winner Zach Johnson had Crosby marveling.

“They got a warning for pace of play, which is really uncommon. But I think they were trying to get a lot of people in because of the rain delay. I've never seen professional golfers play that quick,” Crosby said. “So, whatever they were told, they took it serious. It was a major, so to see someone just tee it up, no practice swings, was so rare.”

Crosby did get to play Oakmont himself after the tournament ended, something his teammate Erik Karlsson did just before this one began.

“It was pretty cool just to be out in those conditions. It’s beautiful. It’s nice that they’re hosting it again,” Crosby said.

Inclement weather has been somewhat of a tradition whenever Crosby has been on a course with professional golfers. During the 2013 work stoppage, Crosby got the chance to play with Colt Knost, a Tour pro for nearly a decade, in Dallas.

“It was one of the worst winds I’ve ever played in, and he shot minus-9. It was so impressive. He put on a clinic. He was a great guy,” Crosby said of the now-retired Knost, who has moved into broadcasting and hosts a podcast called Subpar.

“Just one of those things where I didn't ever think growing up that I would ever have the opportunity to play golf with a professional golfer.”