2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills faces windy, tough conditions and a deep field

The 126th U.S. Open will be contested from June 18‑21, 2026 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York – the course’s sixth time hosting the championship. The USGA warned that strong winds, expected in the 20‑50 mph range, will make the already demanding layout especially difficult, with the 11th hole described by players as “unplayable” in practice. Course officials are keeping the greens soft and water‑rich to mitigate the wind’s impact while aiming for a “tough but fair” set‑up.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the only major still missing from his résumé, is paired with defending champion J.J. Spaun and seeks the career Grand Slam. Other leading contenders include LIV Golf stars Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, as well as Australian veterans Adam Scott, Lucas Herbert and Cameron Smith. The field also features notable PGA Tour players such as Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose.

Beyond the competition, the event highlights Shinnecock Hills’ complex history. The course sits on ancient Shinnecock Nation burial grounds, and the club’s early years saw John Shippen become the first African‑American to play in a U.S. Open in 1896. Recent documentaries have revisited this legacy as the tournament proceeds.