U.S. Open Final Twosome Set for 2:30 p.m. Start at Shinnecock

Q: Can Xander Schauffele cap his historic season with a third major at the formidable Shinnecock Hills?

Yes — Schauffele is very much in position, but he is not the favorite yet. Through 36 holes at Shinnecock Hills, Schauffele sits at 3-under, four shots behind Wyndham Clark’s 7-under lead. That keeps him firmly in the hunt on a course where leads can disappear quickly. Shinnecock has a long history of punishing final rounds, and no 36-hole leader in the last four U.S. Opens there went on to win, which strengthens the case for a chaser like Schauffele. His profile fits the test. Schauffele’s U.S. Open record is among the steadiest in modern golf: he has never finished worse than 14th in his appearances and owns a string of top-10s in the championship. His second-round 66 showed the parts of his game that matter most at Shinnecock — elite iron play, strong putting, and patience in difficult conditions. Analysts also view him as well-suited to long, demanding setups because of his all-around consistency and scrambling. The obstacle is clear: Clark has been the sharpest player so far, and the field behind him is deep, with Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Sam Burns and others still close enough to apply pressure. Shinnecock’s wind, firm greens and severe run-offs also make any prediction fragile. So the answer is yes: Schauffele can cap his season with another major at Shinnecock. But with two rounds left and a four-shot deficit, he remains a serious contender rather than the man to beat.

1 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 20

2:30 p.m. is the expected tee time for the final twosome Sunday at Shinnecock Hills, with the 2026 U.S. Open champion to be decided later that day.
7 p.m. is when NBC is scheduled to end its coverage, making Sunday’s finish earlier than Saturday’s to preserve room for a playoff if needed.
Wyndham Clark, Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns and Sam Stevens are among the main contenders, while Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood remain within striking distance.
Shinnecock’s U.S. Open history points to a tight finish: Brooks Koepka beat Fleetwood by 1 in 2018, while the previous three winners there all prevailed by 2 shots.