US Open Countdown: What We Learned From Shinnecock's First Look
Two weeks out, the stars are already circling. Here's what they found.
The 126th U.S. Open doesn't start for another two weeks. But for the game's biggest names, the preparation has already begun.
On Monday, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy made a detour on their way to the Memorial Tournament. They stopped at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island — the site of this year's national championship — for a first‑hand look at the course that will host the season's third major from June 18-21.
What they saw surprised both of them.
The Fairways Are Wider — But Don't Get Comfortable
The first thing Scheffler noticed when he stepped onto Shinnecock's property was the width of the fairways.
"I was a little surprised at the width of the fairways," the world No. 1 said afterward. "But the green complexes there are extremely difficult, and I think that's where the greatest challenge comes from."
McIlroy echoed the sentiment. "The fairways are very generous — more generous than they were in 2018. But the first cut of rough is five inches long. The fairways are very, very generous. So if you miss the fairway, I feel like you deserve a bad lie."
In other words: Shinnecock is offering a wider margin for error off the tee than in previous years, but the penalty for missing that margin is severe. The fairways average about 48 yards wide — reportedly the widest at a U.S. Open in nearly 50 years — yet the rough is waiting just a few paces off the short grass, and beyond that, the fescue is even more punishing. The message is clear: keep it in play, or pay the price.
The Greens: Fast Enough Already
Shinnecock's greens have a fearsome reputation. In 2018, the USGA was criticized for letting them become so fast and burnt that balls rolled off putting surfaces. Phil Mickelson, in one of the most infamous moments in modern major history, chased his moving ball to keep it from rolling off the front of a green and was assessed a two‑stroke penalty. Brooks Koepka won that year at 1‑over — no competitor finished below par across the entire field.
Six years later, McIlroy has a warning for officials: don't let it happen again.
"The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2 (on the Stimpmeter), something like that, and I really don't think they need to get much faster," McIlroy said. "I think if they can keep them at that speed, they can get them firm and use the hole locations that they want to use without having some of the struggles that they have had the last couple of U.S. Opens."
With the forecast calling for nearly two weeks of sun and temperatures in the low to mid‑20s Celsius, keeping the greens from speeding up will be a deliberate choice — not a given. McIlroy's message to the USGA: don't let the setup get "out of hand."
Scheffler has won everything except one. With victories at the Masters (twice), the PGA Championship and The Open Championship, the world No. 1 is one U.S. Open title away from joining the exclusive company of Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy — the only six players in history to complete the career Grand Slam.
His record at the U.S. Open suggests it's only a matter of time. Since his professional debut, he has finished in the top 10 in five of six starts, including a runner‑up at Brookline in 2022. He arrives at Shinnecock after a string of near‑misses — consecutive runner‑up finishes at the Masters and RBC Heritage, losing both times to European opponents.
"It's the only one I haven't won," Scheffler said simply. "That's the motivation."
For McIlroy, Shinnecock holds a different kind of history — one he'd rather forget. In 2018, when the U.S. Open was last played here, McIlroy missed the cut. He shot 80 in the first round and never recovered.
This time, he's approaching the course differently. His Monday visit was part reconnaissance, part mental reset. And his assessment was notably optimistic.
"If they set it up the right way, I think it's one of the best championship tests in the country. I mean, it's an amazing golf course."
McIlroy completed his own career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters. Now, at 37, he's looking to add a third U.S. Open title to his resume and further cement his place among the game's all‑time greats.
The first‑hand reports from Scheffler and McIlroy confirmed what many already suspected: Shinnecock will be a test of precision, not power. The generous fairways reward controlled driving; the severe green complexes and five‑inch rough punish any lapse in focus. Wind is always a factor on Long Island's exposed terrain, and the forecast suggests dry, warm conditions that could firm up the course even further.
Jon Rahm has also been speaking about the upcoming test — not for himself, but for his young LIV Golf teammate Caleb Surratt, who will make his major debut at Shinnecock. "Let's be honest, your first‑ever major playing at Shinnecock Hills is going to be a rude awakening," Rahm warned. "I can't even begin to make him understand what that week is going to be like."
Rahm's point applies to more than just major rookies. Shinnecock has a way of humbling everyone.
The U.S. Open is two weeks away, but the storylines are already taking shape. Scheffler chasing history. McIlroy seeking redemption. A course that demands respect. And a field that knows, after Monday's reconnaissance, exactly what they're walking into.
At Shinnecock, there are no secrets. Just fairways, rough, and greens that don't forgive.
At Tiger Cliff, we don't predict who will handle the pressure. We just make the ball that rolls true when they do.
—
Matt
Tiger Cliff Golf
P.S. The 126th U.S. Open tees off June 18-21. If Scheffler and McIlroy's scouting trip taught us anything, trust the player who trusts their putter.
Who is your pick to lift the trophy at Shinnecock? Let us know in the comments!
#USOpen #ShinnecockHills #GolfPreview #MajorGolf