USGA Unveils 2026 U.S. Open Pairings for 156 Players at Shinnecock Hills

Q: After past controversies, can the USGA finally get the Shinnecock Hills setup right?

Probably yes — or at least the USGA has given itself a much better chance than it did in 2004 and 2018. The evidence is in the changes. USGA setup chief John Bodenhamer has openly acknowledged that Shinnecock’s conditions were “sub-optimal” in those years, when wind, sandy soil and perched greens combined with aggressive setup choices to produce near-unplayable surfaces. In 2004, officials watered greens during play. In 2018, the USGA apologized after Saturday’s setup went too far, with Phil Mickelson’s moving-ball incident becoming the symbol of a course on the edge. This time, the USGA is taking a more restrained approach. Fairways are expected to play at member width, roughly 48 yards on average, far wider than a typical U.S. Open. Green speeds are being kept more moderate, around the low-11 range rather than pushed to extremes, and officials say they want more usable hole locations and more shot options around the greens. The guiding idea is to “let Shinnecock be Shinnecock,” relying more on the course’s natural firmness, contours and wind than on manufactured severity. That does not guarantee success. Shinnecock remains one of the most weather-sensitive major venues in golf, and forecast wind could still make scoring brutal. But the key difference is that the USGA no longer appears fixated on forcing par to be the target score. If the greens stay alive and the wind, not the setup, becomes the main defense, the USGA will have gotten it right.

Q: Will a hand injury derail Brooks Koepka’s chance to conquer Shinnecock again?

Yes — it is a real threat to Brooks Koepka’s chances, but not yet a definitive knockout. The concern is straightforward: Koepka withdrew from the RBC Canadian Open after sudden numbness in his hand, particularly affecting the ring and pinkie fingers, which are critical for grip and club control. He has said he still intends to play at Shinnecock, but a U.S. Open on a firm, windy, demanding course is one of the worst places to arrive with any uncertainty in feel or strength. That matters even more because Shinnecock typically rewards precise ball-striking, trajectory control and patience. Even with the USGA planning a more measured setup than the controversial 2018 edition, it is still expected to be a severe test. A hand or nerve-related issue can affect not only full swings but also touch shots and putting speed control. The counterargument is Koepka’s record. He won at Shinnecock in 2018, owns an exceptional U.S. Open résumé, and has often played his best golf in majors. His withdrawal in Canada may also have been a precaution to protect his chances this week rather than evidence he cannot compete. So the injury does not rule him out, but it clearly lowers his ceiling unless he regains full grip strength and sensation quickly. If he is physically close to normal, his course history makes him dangerous. If the numbness lingers, contending over 72 holes becomes much less likely.

Q: Can Scottie Scheffler achieve a historic career Grand Slam on his 30th birthday?

Yes. Scheffler has a real chance to complete the career Grand Slam this week, and if he wins the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday, June 21, he would do it on his 30th birthday. The stakes are historic. Scheffler already owns the Masters, PGA Championship and The Open, leaving the U.S. Open as the only missing major. A victory would make him just the seventh man to complete the modern career Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. It would also make him only the second player after Woods to finish the Slam on his first try at the final missing major. The case for him is strong. He arrives as world No. 1 and one of the tournament favorites, with a solid U.S. Open record that includes a runner-up finish in 2022 and a top-10 last year. Even in a season he has described as frustrating by his standards, he remains among the PGA Tour leaders in overall performance and tee-to-green play. The challenge is equally clear. Shinnecock Hills is expected to be a severe test, even with the USGA planning a fairer setup than in 2018. Wind, firm greens and punishing rough could narrow the margin for error, and the field is loaded with major champions and in-form contenders such as Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Matt Fitzpatrick. So the opportunity is there, but Scheffler still has to win one of golf’s toughest championships on one of its toughest stages.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 16

Five featured groups headline the first two rounds at Shinnecock Hills, including Scottie Scheffler with defending champion J.J. Spaun and amateur Mason Howell at 8:14 a.m. Thursday.
Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg and Tommy Fleetwood tee off at 7:52 a.m., while Brooks Koepka, Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup go at 7:30 a.m. as the USGA stacks early marquee windows.
Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick lead the late wave at 1:25 p.m., and Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm follow at 2:09 p.m.
Shinnecock returns as U.S. Open host for the first time since 2018, when Koepka won at 1-over par—the only over-par winning score in the event since Justin Rose's 1-over victory in 2013.