Shinnecock Hills might be the toughest test in golf.
This legendary, historic golf course has embarrassed the best players in the world over the last 100 years. In the last century, only three players have finished under par at a US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
None of the players accomplished this last time America’s national open was played at Shinnecock Hills. Brooks Koepka won the event at one-over par, and the conditions were so tough that the USGA had to apologize to prevent a mass walkout by players.
Because of how difficult the last two US Opens have been at Shinnecock, Rory McIlroy predicted a lower-scoring week this year. But the early weather forecast suggests this year could be a bloodbath once again.
Weather forecast at Shinnecock foreshadows brutal US Open
The 2018 US Open turned into a chaotic mess because of the Saturday winds, and it looks like we’re getting exactly the same at this year’s event.
On Friday, the winds will be brutally tough, reaching up to 35 mph. That is as gusty as it was during Saturday’s bloodbath eight years ago.
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The conditions might not be as tough as in past years because these winds will come shortly after overnight rain. In 2004 and 2018, the greens were firm and fast, but this year they may be softer.
That, combined with the widened fairways, means McIlroy’s prediction of a lower score in 2026 might come true, but if Friday’s forecast holds true, then the wind is set to wreak havoc during the second round.
Rory McIlroy explains why the USGA might want a lower score at this year’s US Open
The last two US Opens at Shinnecock have been a bit of a farce. The USGA completely lost the golf course on both occasions, making it far too difficult for the players, even when they hit good shots.
That’s why McIlroy thinks the golf course is set to be easier this year. Speaking to Fried Egg Golf, he said, “I think Shinnecock is very wind-dependent. I think that first day at Shinnecock in 2018, I remember every tee shot when it was that left-to-right wind, I could not start the ball far enough left. I kept missing it in the right rough.
“I think you will see a slightly gentler Shinnecock this time around, because the USGA don’t want to lose it. Obviously, the club and the membership don’t want to lose it either.
“I would expect the winning score to be a little more in the red numbers than not, but it’s an amazing golf course because the playing corridors are wide with wide fairways, the greens are pretty small, they can tuck the pins away and you do have to think about angles.
“I think about the eighth hole which is a really short par four but if you have the pin on the right side of the green and you hit it up the right side of the fairway it’s not a nice wedge shot, but if you hit it up the left side, you are hitting straight up the grain and it becomes easier, not just from a landing stand point but visually.
“There are a lot of things like that at Shinnecock that you have to think about. Also, the greens are an incredible set of greens, but if you get them too fast, they become silly, so the tournament setup guys have to be careful of how fast they get them and where they are putting hole locations.”
Hopefully the USGA can set Shinnecock up to be a hard, but fair test, as every US Open should be.
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