A US Open Thursday at Shinnecock Hills usually ends with the field at even par and someone yelling about the rough. Round 1 of the 126th championship cooperated with the script — until Wyndham Clark got hold of it. The 2023 champion sits alone on top at three under, with Sam Stevens and Jon Rahm one back, and an early-morning Friday finish to settle a weather-delayed opening round before Round 2 even begins.
How Round 1 actually played
Shinnecock did what Shinnecock does. Morning starters got the calm, afternoon starters got the breeze, and the leaderboard reshuffled accordingly. Sam Stevens posted the clubhouse 2-under early. Rory McIlroy matched him with a tidy 69 that featured zero bogeys after the fourth, and Ludvig Åberg did the same with a more chaotic ledger. Scottie Scheffler ground out an even-par 70 and remains the bookmaker favourite to win the trophy on Sunday.
The shot of the day belonged to Clark. He nearly made an albatross at the par-5 14th — a long iron that pitched on the front edge, rolled to within tap-in range and gave him a kick-in eagle. From there a 21-foot birdie putt at 18 sealed the solo lead.
What's coming in Round 2
The USGA's plan, weather permitting, is to finish the suspended Round 1 holes at first light, then run Round 2 in re-paired groups. The marquee afternoon trio is McIlroy, Scheffler and Åberg — a group that probably accounts for the majority of Friday TV viewership on its own. Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood share an early tee time that could quietly post a number before the wind freshens.
The cut line will sit higher than you think. Shinnecock punishes mistakes brutally once the breeze gets up, and the forecast suggests steady south-southwesterly conditions into Friday afternoon. Anything inside +4 should play. Anything beyond that is packing.
The Shinnecock factor
The defining feature of this golf course isn't the rough, despite what every broadcaster will tell you. It's the green complexes. They run away from the player at the front edge and fall off the sides into collection areas. Approach shots that look perfect end up twenty feet below the surface, chipping back up with a wedge. The best players this week are not the longest hitters — they're the ones who know which sides of which greens to miss on.
Clark's edge in Round 1 was exactly that. He played to the fat parts of greens, accepted the long putts, and didn't waste shots fighting the architecture. That blueprint travels into Round 2.
Players to watch on Friday
- Scottie Scheffler: An even-par opener is a launchpad here. Scheffler's last seven majors include enough sub-70 second rounds to expect one Friday.
- Rory McIlroy: Driving accuracy was the question coming in. He answered it Thursday and now needs the putter to wake up.
- Ludvig Åberg: Still hunting a first major. His ball-striking suits this course; the short game is the variable.
- Xander Schauffele: Quietly grouped just outside the top ten. Always shows up at the Open.
How to watch
USA Network carries early Round 2 coverage from late morning Eastern time. NBC takes over for the late-afternoon window when the leaders finish. Peacock streams every group across all four rounds for subscribers, including featured-group coverage that follows Scheffler-McIlroy-Åberg shot by shot.
For everything else on the sports calendar tonight — the World Cup is back in full flow as well — head over to the Scorelisto blog for daily previews.
FAQ
Has anyone won at Shinnecock from the lead after Round 1? Rarely. Shinnecock's last two US Opens both crowned a Sunday charger rather than a wire-to-wire winner. Clark has the trickier job of the week.
What is the projected cut? Based on the morning scoring average, +4 is the working estimate. A windy afternoon could push it to +5.
How does the US Open break ties? A two-hole aggregate playoff. If still tied, sudden death. The two-hole format replaced the old 18-hole Monday in 2018 after Brooks Koepka's win at this same course.
When does Round 2 finish? Late Friday evening if weather holds. The cut is applied immediately and Round 3 pairings drop overnight.