Justin Rose shares honest thoughts on how the USGA have set up Shinnecock for the US Open

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The conditions at Shinnecock Hills have forced the USGA to take a different approach to this year’s US Open.

Gusts of up to 40 mph are expected during the opening round of the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock, so the USGA have been forced to set up Shinnecock conservatively to give it every chance of being playable. 

First, they have kept the greens to 10.5 on the stimpmeter, far slower than the usual US Open to make sure the balls can stay still on the greens in the wind.

They will also syringe (water) the greens in between the morning and afternoon waves to keep the grass alive as the wind dries it out, and the pin positions are about as straightforward as they come around this treacherous venue. 

This will make the golf course play as easy as possible in these winds, which is not what the US Open has typically stood for over the years. Justin Rose, who has played in his fair share of US Opens at 45-years-old, and winning one in 2013, shared his opinion on the setup.

Justin Rose calls USGA’s Shinnecock setup ‘necessary’ amid windy conditions

Rose was supportive of the USGA’s decision to take the teeth out of the setup as much as possible, given the windy conditions. The Englishman said that the moves were “necessary” to make sure the day’s play goes ahead. 

Speaking in a press conference before this year’s US Open, Rose said, “ It’s necessary. You know, the way the wind is blowing, the direction of the forecasted wind, it’s literally — if you think about No. 7 specifically, the way that green tilts, the wind is blowing dead down that green.

“I think that – overall I think with wind gusts up to 40 miles an hour, we wouldn’t be playing many major championship venues with winds at 40. You wouldn’t be playing Augusta with 40-mile-an-hour winds. It would be called off.

“I think this is more of a coastal golf course. I think the chances of high winds are slightly higher, so I think preparing for that is not a bad thing.

“This week to keep golf going, I think that’s the right call. I think if you knew that there was going to be 8-mile-an-hour breezes, you know, perfect. I’m sure they have every adaptability to get the greens to 12. But with knowing what’s coming, that’s definitely the only way to go.”

It’s a sensible take from Rose. This is a links course, designed for this weather, but only if the USGA isn’t silly with the set up. They have been smart, and hopefully that produces an entertaining day of golf. 

Justin Rose remembered 2018 US Open at Shinnecock

It’s not surprising that the USGA are being so cautious this week because of what has happened at Shinnecock in the past. In both 2004 and 2018 they lost the golf course badly, making it far too firm, and forcing them to heavily water the greens.

Rose reflected back on the events of 2018, when the USGA had to apologise for their setup on Saturday because it was so tough.

He said, “Yeah, I mean, I think I was in the second to last group going into Sunday in 2018. Yeah, obviously the course was tough. Course got tough again that day, but they softened it. I think the course got really tough on Saturday, I think.

“I think Thursday was a really hard day wind-wise, and then I think the course got really, really firm and tricky on Saturday. Then I think they backed off a little bit on Sunday morning, put a lot of water on it.

“The water seems to disappear on this golf course really, really quickly, so by the time Sunday afternoon and a bit of a breeze came around, it was really tough again. That’s just the nature of how this place plays. I think there is a bit of a difference in the wave morning to afternoon, the way it feels and the way it plays.

“I think anyone that’s in and around the lead on the weekend is going to be, you know, grinding. I think maybe, like you saw with Tommy, there are opportunities to kind of play your way into it as well if you made the cut and get out early on Saturday morning.

“Especially with the way the fairways are this week, you know, they’re a little built wider, you’re going to have a few more opportunities with the irons in your hand to sort of be able to attack softer greens or softer conditions in the morning.

“Like I said, the course changes so quickly. With 15- to 20-mile-an-hour winds forecast all week, you’re going to have to hit great shots to put a score together no matter what.”

It seems that the USGA have learned from the last two US Opens at Shinnecock, and are keeping the course dialled back, so they can ramp it up on the weekend if they wish. It is poised to be a brilliant US Open!