2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hills: Top Storylines, Schedule and More
The 2026 U.S. Open is shaping up to be an unforgettable chapter in golf history. As the third major of the year, the tournament is heading to the legendary Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York—a venue that stands completely in a league of its own.
What makes this year's championship so remarkable?
Deep Roots: Shinnecock Hills is the oldest incorporated golf club in the United States.
Time-Tested Legacy: It holds the unique distinction of being the only course to host the U.S. Open across three different centuries.
But history isn't the only thing the players will be battling. The course is notorious for being one of the most punishing and difficult tests on the PGA circuit. Because the stakes and the difficulty are so exceptionally high, the 2026 champion will undoubtedly look back on this victory as one of highlights of their career. Here's a look at the 2026 U.S. Open, from the schedule to a course preview, odds, and more.
The 2026 U.S. Open Schedule
Scheduled for June 18-21, the U.S. Open will air on NBC, USA Network, and NBCSN. Although DISH does not carry NBCSN, you can watch the action on USA Network (channel 105) and NBC (check your guide for local channel number). Here's a look at the broadcast schedule:
Round 1 Thursday, June 18: 6:30am - 5pm ET on USA Network; 5-8pm ET on NBCSN*
Round 2 Friday, June 19: 6:30am - 1:30pm ET on NBCSN*; 1:30-7:30pm ET on NBC
Round 3 Saturday, June 20: 10am - 12pm ET on USA Network and 12-8pm ET on NBC
Round 4 Sunday, June 25: 9am - 12pm ET on USA Network and 12-7pm ET on NBC
*Not Available with DISH
Course and Weather
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club’s legendary status is built on much more than just its storied history. For this year's championship, the course will stretch to roughly 7,440 yards as a Par 70, confronting the world's best players with a multi-layered defensive design.
The Ultimate Test: How Shinnecock Challenges the Field
The Ocean Winds: Situated on a high point of Long Island, the course is completely exposed to the elements coming off the Atlantic. Even minor shifts in wind speed or direction completely alter how the holes play, demanding constant adaptation from the players.
Angled Fairways & 5-Inch Fescue: Unlike the narrow corridors typical of most U.S. Open venues, Shinnecock features generous fairways averaging nearly 50 yards wide. However, because they are angled rather than straight, players must hit precise distances and lines. Missing the fairway is catastrophic: there is no graduated rough, meaning errant shots plunge directly into punishing, five-inch-deep grass.
Diabolical Greens: The primary defense of the course rests on its relatively small bentgrass and poa annua putting surfaces. They are exceptionally firm, lightning-fast, and heavily contoured with tight run-off areas that severely penalize missed approaches. Several greens feature "crowned" or "turtleback" designs that actively repel balls away from the pin and into collection areas.
Bunkers and Blind Shots: The layout forces golfers to navigate more than 150 bunkers alongside multiple blind or semi-blind tee and approach shots, which easily bait players into second-guessing themselves and bailing out into poor positions. Interestingly, the entire course features just a single water hazard—a pond located on the 6th hole.
Elite Par 3s: Shinnecock’s four par 3s are regarded by some as the most challenging set in championship golf. They test every club in the bag, ranging from the massive 252-yard 2nd hole to the treacherous 157-yard 11th hole.
Weather & Conditions Outlook While the overall test cannot be mitigated, players should find this week slightly more manageable than the conditions in 2004 and 2018, which some competitors labeled "borderline unplayable" (a frustration that famously led Phil Mickelson to hit a moving ball on the 13th green in 2018). Still, Mother Nature will have her say. Thursday's opening round projects wind gusts up to 30 mph, while Sunday's final round will feature a steady west-to-southwest wind blowing up to 16 mph.
Five Players to Watch
Scottie Scheffler Talk about a birthday gift: If the World No. 1 can secure the trophy, he will join Rory McIlroy on the elite list of golfers to complete the career Grand Slam on the exact day he turns 30. Scheffler is so dominant that even his below-average performances keep him in the hunt on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, he enters the week as the betting favorite to win—just as he is for every tournament he plays.
Rory McIlroy The intense major championship pressure has largely subsided for Rory after he completed his career Grand Slam at the 2025 Masters and successfully defended that title in 2026. Now chasing history rather than validation, McIlroy possesses the elite firepower to pull away from the field—provided he manages the thick rough without attempting to completely overpower the golf course.
Brooks Koepka Koepka hoisted the trophy the last time the U.S. Open visited Shinnecock Hills in 2018. However, he arrives this week clouded by a mysterious hand injury that caused numbness in his fingers, forcing him to withdraw from his immediate tune-up event, the RBC Canadian Open. While Koepka's major pedigree makes him a massive threat if healthy, this demanding layout will quickly expose any lingering physical limitations.
Matt Fitzpatrick Riding the momentum of three recent victories, the 2022 U.S. Open champion has climbed all the way to No. 4 in the world rankings. Fitzpatrick arrives in fantastic form; his immaculate ball striking and elite chipping identity make him perfectly equipped to handle the heavy winds and firm conditions expected this week.
J.J. Spaun As the defending 2025 U.S. Open champion, Spaun faces the unique, heavy pressure of trying to go back-to-back at a venue as unforgiving as Shinnecock. Though he opens as a longshot on the betting boards, his high accuracy off the tee and his current status as the PGA Tour leader in approach play over his last 11 events make him a highly dangerous contender to repeat.
