Scheffler Shoots 2-Over in Windy U.S. Open First Round at Shinnecock Hills

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 golfer, opened the 2026 U.S. Open with a 2-over-par 72 at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday, battling gusty winds that exceeded 25 mph and a two-hour fog delay that stretched his round to 5.5 hours. The world's top-ranked player, who needs this tournament to complete the career Grand Slam, found himself four shots behind early leader Wyndham Clark and tied for 75th place.

Scheffler's round was a constant struggle against the elements, with the par-5 16th hole epitomizing the difficulty. Playing uphill and directly into a 25-mph wind, the 16th was not remotely reachable in two shots. After a fairway wood that left him searching for his ball, Scheffler ended up jumping in a bunker 150 yards from the green, 10 feet below the fairway, just to glimpse the flag. He made bogey 6 on the hole, which played as the fifth-hardest on the course.

Costly mistakes included a double bogey on No. 8, where Scheffler hit his tee shot into the rough, his second into a bunker, and then three-putted. On the 13th hole, a wedge from 110 yards to the middle of the green spun back and rolled off the front, leading to another bogey. He sank a 6-foot putt on No. 9 to turn at 3-over, then birdied three of the back nine holes and saved par with a 9-foot sand save on No. 18 to finish at 2-over.

“If you told me when I was staring at my par putt on 9 that I would post 2-over today, I would definitely have taken it at the time,” Scheffler said. He acknowledged the extreme challenge, noting, “You had to be hitting a great shot if you wanted to avoid a punishment. I think 'good' would put you in some tough spots.”

Scheffler's playing partner and defending champion J.J. Spaun fared worse, shooting 77. After his round, Scheffler spent 90 minutes on the driving range in an animated conversation with his coach, Randy Smith, as the wind picked up for the afternoon wave. The tournament is far from over, and Scheffler knows it will come down to who can best handle the shifting conditions, adding, “I think it's a little easier sometimes in a U.S. Open, because it's happening to everybody.”