CBS Sports Publishes 2026 U.S. Open TV Guide for 156-Player Shinnecock Field

Q: Can Brooks Koepka repeat his 2018 dominance at Shinnecock to join Jack Nicklaus in the U.S. Open record books?

Yes — if Brooks Koepka wins again at Shinnecock Hills, he would join Jack Nicklaus as the only player in the modern era to win multiple U.S. Opens at the same venue. Nicklaus did it at Baltusrol in 1967 and 1980; Koepka can match that by adding 2026 to his 2018 title at Shinnecock. The case for him is real. Shinnecock suits his major-championship profile: demanding, wind-exposed, and mentally punishing. In 2018, Koepka handled those conditions better than anyone, winning at 1-over par when no player finished under par. He has said this week that his ball-striking feels even better than it did then, and his history in U.S. Opens is elite. But a repeat of that dominance is far from certain. Koepka arrives after a recent withdrawal from the RBC Canadian Open because of an ulnar nerve issue in his hand/arm. He says he is now pain-free, but also acknowledged his grip strength is not fully back. At Shinnecock, where control in heavy wind is critical, even a small physical limitation matters. The course setup may also reduce the chance of anyone “dominating.” The USGA has deliberately softened conditions compared with past controversies, with slower greens and more active moisture management. Even so, strong winds are forecast, and the field is led by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, with Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and others in strong form. So Koepka has a credible path to history, but this week looks more like a difficult, open test than a setup for another runaway performance.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 18

Thursday’s opening round at Shinnecock Hills starts at 6:30 a.m. Eastern, with TV coverage running 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on USA Network and late streaming from 5-8 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
Friday keeps the 6:30 a.m. start, with NBC Sports Network carrying early coverage until 1:30 p.m. before NBC takes over through 7:30 p.m.; featured groups stream from 7:30 a.m. on USOpen.com and the U.S. Open app.
Weekend coverage shifts later, with Saturday teeing off at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.; USA Network handles the early windows before NBC airs the main broadcasts through 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday.
Shinnecock Hills hosts the U.S. Open for the sixth time, staging a 156-man field that includes world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, 2025 champion Rory McIlroy and 2018 winner Brooks Koepka.