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Scottie Scheffler insisted Shinnecock Hills put up a ‘good fight’ during a stormy opening round of the US Open, where many of the world’s best battled another tough major test.
The iconic New York course has sparked controversy the last two times it hosted the US Open, with the 2018 edition being unmatched by any player during the final round of the 2004 competition before flashy greens and questionable pins created chaos in the third round.
There were concerns that strong winds would cause problems again this year, with gusts of 40 miles per hour predicted on Thursday, prompting the USGA to step in to avoid disruption from a ‘problematic’ forecast.
The USGA slowed the greens and syringed them between the morning and afternoon waves, reducing the chance of balls flying off the ultra-fast greens, while a slightly weaker-than-forecast gust prevented the wind from stopping.
Sustained winds still left players scrambling to break par, with only six of 78 players shooting rounds in the 60s in the morning wave, while Scheffler’s bid to complete the career Grand Slam began with a two-under 72.
Scottie Scheffler struggled with his approach play during a first-round 72 at the US Open
“It felt like a day where a lot of good shots were going to get penalized,” Scheffler said. “If you want to avoid penalties, you have to hit great shots. I think good (shots) will put you in some tough spots.
“Overall, it was a really challenging day. If you had told me when I was looking at my par nine that I would post two over today, I would have taken it. It was a good fight.”
Playing partner JJ Spann saw a tee shot on a par-three stop on the green but rolled into a bunker before he could reach it, while several players felt balls swinging without enough separation to stop play.
“Obviously it was pretty windy, but you couldn’t ask for a better set-up,” said Padraig Harrington. “There were definitely a couple of tough holes, but they were all tees. The pins were as easy as they could be. The greens were soft. So it was a tough test but very, very fair.”
Tommy Fleetwood added: “I think they’ve done an amazing job of making it as fair as you can possibly get on a test of golf today, with their conditions.”
McIlroy: Purse ‘going to be good’ in ‘sensible’ set-up
Fog stopped play for two hours on the opening morning as the first round could not be completed before dark, while winds were not forecast to be as strong over the final three days.
“It was tough here without the wind, and then it was pretty tough – really tough,” Keegan Bradley said after an opening-round 70. “The USGA did a great job setting up the course because if the greens were faster or harder, we wouldn’t be playing right away.”
Rory McIlroy carded an opening round 80 the last time the US Open was held here in 2018, but the world No 2 was happy to finish under-par this time despite closing with a one-under 69 with back-to-back bogeys.
“The greens are pretty slow and pretty accepting,” McIlroy said. “I think they need to be. It’s already a challenging golf course, and you put a 30-mile-an-hour wind on it, it tests the best players in the world very well.
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Rory McIlroy briefly bounced out of the first round of the US Open after a sensational eagle in the fifth.
“I think they were judicious with the course set-up. Especially starting with 156 (players) on the first two days, you want to get everyone in without too much trouble. They at least set up the course for him today.
“Going out with the mindset that the pars are going to be good and if you can pick up a few birdies here and there, it’s always a bonus. Just minimizing the mistakes – I did that for the most part.”
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