Emerging
Jun 18, 2026 Major2
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Scheffler Shoots 2-Over in Windy U.S. Open First Round at Shinnecock Hills
Scottie Scheffler shot 2-over par in the first round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, battling 25-mph winds and a fog delay to finish four shots behind the lead. The world No. 1, seeking to complete the career Grand Slam, is tied for 75th and faces an uphill battle to rebound.

Quick Facts
Who
Scottie Scheffler
What
shot 2-over-par 72
When
Thursday
Where
Shinnecock Hills
- shot 2-over-par 72
- opened the 2026 U.S. Open
- battled gusty winds exceeding 25 mph
- experienced a two-hour fog delay
- completed the round in 5.5 hours
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.”
Topics
Why This Matters
Scheffler's struggle shows that even the world's best golfer can be humbled by severe conditions. For readers, this means the U.S. Open outcome is highly uncertain—any player who can manage the wind and patience will have a shot, making the tournament a true test of resilience and adaptability.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireFirst round of the 2026 U.S. Open begins with a two-hour fog delay.
Jun 18, 2026
WireScottie Scheffler begins first round of U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler makes double bogey on No. 8
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler reaches turn at 3-over par after making par putt on No. 9
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler makes bogey 6 on par-5 16th hole
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler completes round with score of 2-over par and sand save on No. 18
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler finishes tied for 75th place, four shots behind leader Sam Stevens
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler spends approximately 90 minutes on driving range discussing round with coach Randy Smith
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler completes his round at 2-over par 72, tied for 75th.
Jun 18, 2026
WireScheffler finishes a 90-minute practice session on the range.