US Open Golf 2026 Kicks Off at Shinnecock Hills, Long Island

The 126th U.S. Open opened at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, Long Island, on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Strong winds of 20‑40 mph and a brief fog delay made the course unusually demanding.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler posted a 72 (+2), tying for 68th place and sitting five shots off the lead. He described the conditions: “Any time you get conditions like this, I think the scores are going to be high.” His round featured four birdies, four bogeys and a double‑bogey, with a strong back‑nine that kept his Grand Slam hopes alive as he approaches his 30th birthday.

Austria’s Sepp Straka also carded a 72 (+2) despite two double‑bogeys and early wind‑related struggles, while defending champion J.J. Spaun fell to 77 (+7). Rory McIlroy recorded a 69 (‑1). German qualifier Matti Schmid was the sole German in the field. The opening round saw only 15 players under par, underscoring the difficulty of the historic links‑style layout.

The tournament will continue through the weekend with the wind expected to remain a key factor as players chase the coveted career Grand Slam.