June 18, 2026, 6:30 a.m. ET
It might be a no-win situation but it’s definitely not a no-wind situation.
The forecast in Southampton, New York, site Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, host of the 126th U.S. Open calls for wind, wind and more wind. As a result, the USGA is going to unusual lengths to make sure the course plays tough but fair.
“This year I believe the wind will impact our championship unlike many others,” John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s chief competitions officer, said during Wednesday’s pre-tournament news conference.
A check of the accuweather forecast for Thursday’s first round shows shows a high of 72, a chance of rain of 55 and the words “breezy early.” Well, breezy might be putting it nicely. Expect sustained winds throughout the day of 12 to 24 miles per hour, with gusts from 24 to 36 mph and potentially reaching as high as 40 mph.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!2026 U.S. Open leaderboard
See all the tee times and some of the best groupings and keep tabs on the live U.S. Open leaderboard throughout Thursday’s first round.
Where to watch, stream, follow the U.S. Open
- USA Network, 6:30 a.m. ET – 5 p.m. ET
- USOpen.com, 7:30 a.m. ET – 8 p.m. ET
- Peacock/NBC Sports Network, 5 p.m. ET – 8 p.m. ET
Watch the U.S. Open on PeacockWhat is syringing greens? USGA plans to do so at Shinnecock
Chief Championships Officer John Bodenhamer said the USGA is planning to syringe greens between waves Thursday and Friday, which means putting a light layer of water down, allowing it to hydrate the grass leaf blade and prevent wilt, preserve turf health and reduce stress on the poa annua putting surfaces. Will this help? We shall see.
Can the USGA master the setup at historic Shinnecock?
This is a museum piece that hosted the second U.S. Open in 1896, but one still very much in vogue: in the four Opens played here during the modern era, most recently in 2018, only three players have broken par. This week, the par-70 layout measures 7,440 yards. The question is, can the USGA get the course setup right this time? Shinnecock is a course where none other than Tiger Woods said, “You can’t fake it.”