US Open 2026: Rory McIlroy starts strong as Shinnecock Hills bares his teeth

Shinnecock Hills lived up to its reputation as one of golf’s toughest tests on the fog-delayed opening day of the US Open.

When play began, two hours after the scheduled time, only the top six broke even as strong winds blew into an already tricky course on New York’s Long Island.

Among them was world number two Rory McIlroy, whose one-under 69 put him behind unseeded American Sam Stevens as the next wave of 78 players took to the course.

And with both players forecast to get stronger as the day progresses, both players will hope to be firmly in the mix, given that in the four previous US Opens held at this venue, there have been 1,792 rounds and only 161 (9%) have been played to par. In fact, only three players finished in par after 72 holes.

Much of this was due to poor playing conditions at Shinnecock in both 2004 and 2018 with players accusing championship organizers the United States Golf Association (USGA) of “losing the course”.

Speaking to the No Laying Up Podcast recently, the USGA’s John Bodenhamer, the man responsible for course set-up this year, admitted that previous conditions were suboptimal but told the No Laying Up Podcast that they had “learned a lot”.

For example, watering the greens during the first two rounds to stop them from drying out and keep the grass alive.

The US Open is generally regarded as the toughest test and all the players spoke of staying patient. And that endurance was tested from Thursday’s closing with low clouds and fog covering the area.

However, once it was blown into the Atlantic Ocean by strong winds, the true nature of the challenge ahead was exposed.

Coarse rough, five inches deep, next to the fairway. Wispy fescue and undulating and fast greens add another layer of complexity to Shinnecock’s fearsome reputation.

McIlroy didn’t seem fazed by the 30mph wind blowing across the 7,440-yard track.

The six-time major winner, who started on the 10th, knocked in two birdies in the opening three holes and even bogeys at the 13th and 16th holes did not appear to give him reason to reassess his approach.

During the round McIlroy, who successfully defended his Masters title in April, told Sky Sports pundit and Solheim Cup great Mel Reid that he wasn’t looking too bad as conditions were “consistent”.

He duly demonstrated that after turning in with a birdie at the third and hitting his tee shot, carding a sensational eagle at the fifth before nudging his second shot to 11 feet, a wind-aided shot 396 yards.