Many golfers are quick to blame their swing mechanics when shots start going off target. However, alignment is often overlooked, causing players to make subconscious compensations that can lead to even bigger misses. 

Professional long driver Averee Dovsek demonstrates a trick to get your alignment dialed in before hitting a shot.

While there are many ways to practice alignment, selecting an intermediate target lowers the risk of lining up off target. Try incorporating this method into your next practice session to see if it improves your accuracy.

If you’re looking for more instruction, click here.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Golfweek golf instruction: Your swing mechanics may not be the problem

Cameron Young entered the US Open among the favorites given his superb efforts on the PGA Tour in 2026.

Young has two wins to his name this season, behind only the three of Matt Fitzpatrick, with 12/12 cuts made so far.

But he now finds himself in a tie for 49th at the US Open after a tricky first round, where many of his fellow top players also struggled in the difficult conditions.

Young carded a two-over 72 on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills, leaving him eight shots behind early leader Wyndham Clark.

And while he has every chance of making a quick recovery on day two of the US Open, he did experience big struggles in a particularly key area.

Cameron Young already struggling in one area at the US Open

Young can certainly take comfort from the fact that he is joined on two-over by several top players, including fellow Americans Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele.

But he will likely be concerned about his putting.

Young recorded a Strokes Gained: Putting figure of -2.54, which ranks him among the worst players in the field in that area.

In stark contrast, Clark and Sepp Straka lead the way with their total of +4.

Moreover, Young’s average number of putts of 1.92 is also well off Preston Stout’s leading figure of 1.43.

It’s certainly nothing new for the world number three, who entered the US Open ranked 62nd for SG: Putting on the PGA Tour in 2026, as well as 85th for putting average.

Of course, the wind has made the greens at Shinnecock even more difficult, with Young certainly not the only player to have faltered with his putter on Thursday.

Cameron Young can take big positives at Shinnecock despite putting woes

While he hasn’t been performing with his putter, Young can take plenty of confidence from his efforts elsewhere.

Most notably, he’s ranked behind only Sahith Theegala in the entire field for his SG: Approach total of +2.94, while his SG: Tee-to-Green figure of 3.79 ranks him fifth.

There is, therefore, clearly plenty for the American to build on as he prepares for his second round alongside Brooks Koepka and Chris Gotterup in the afternoon wave.

First, however, leader Clark is one of 50 players who must return to Shinnecock early to finish their first rounds after they were suspended due to darkness.

Read more:

Scottie Scheffler hits unwanted career milestone after his first round at the US Open

Bryson DeChambeau reacts after breaking one of his own personal records on day one of the US Open

Brooks Koepka points out what was really ‘weird’ about Shinnecock on US Open day one, ‘It’s just odd’

Round 2 of the 126th U.S. Open takes center stage Friday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, where players will not only battle one of golf’s most demanding courses but also race to make the cut and position themselves for the weekend.

MORE:Masters champ Rory McIlroy shares golf dad tips with Jason Kelce

How to Watch 2026 U.S. Open: 2nd Round

• Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
• TV Channel: NBC / NBCSN / Peacock
• Live Stream: Peacock (watch now)

full TV & streaming schedule below

Thursday’s opening round was disrupted by a more than two-hour fog delay and ultimately suspended because of darkness, forcing several players to return Friday morning to complete their first rounds. Former U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark emerged as the player to catch, reaching 6-under through 16 holes and building a four-shot advantage before play was halted. Clark took advantage of calmer late-afternoon conditions with a birdie-birdie-eagle stretch that vaulted him atop the leaderboard.

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The chasing pack remains loaded with major champions and contenders. Rory McIlroy battled difficult conditions to post a 1-under 69, while Jon Rahm, Matt Fitzpatrick, Dustin Johnson, and Gary Woodland all remained within striking distance with holes left to complete. Meanwhile, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler opened with a 2-over 72 as he continues his bid to complete the career Grand Slam after winning the PGA Championship and The Open last year.

Friday figures to be a marathon day at Shinnecock. Players still on the course will finish Round 1 beginning in the morning before quickly turning around for their second rounds, creating the possibility for significant leaderboard movement. Shinnecock’s firm fairways, punishing fescue, and ever-changing coastal winds have already proven capable of producing big numbers, and with the cut line looming, every shot will carry added importance as the field tries to survive one of golf’s toughest major tests and earn a spot for the weekend.

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When fans tune in to watch the US Open, they want to see the best players in the world struggle.

It has branded itself as golf’s toughest test, where breaking par is a significant achievement, and where professionals are brought to their knees.

So when the forecast predicted gusts of up to 40mph on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills, which is already one of the most difficult golf courses in the world at the best of times, chaos was predicted. But this chaos never came.

In response to the forecast, the USGA watered the greens to ensure balls could stay on the putting surfaces. So when the wind failed to live up to expectations, players were able to throw darts at Shinnecock.

Wyndham Clark leads through 18 holes with a score of six-under, at a place where only three players have finished a US Open under par in the last 100 years. This was not well received by golf fans.

Golf fans slam USGA for Shinnecock setup at the US Open

The typically rock hard greens of Shinnecock Hills had been softened by the USGA to ensure the golf course was playable, but that resulted in the scores being far lower than anyone wanted from the opening round of a US Open.

One fan slammed the USGA for setting up the golf course to be easier than it is for the members throughout the year: “I get why they softened the Shinnecock greens. I really do. But this is disgusting.

“This green plays twice as firm for the members on a typical Tuesday. 77 year old retired guys play a tougher hole than the best players on earth.”

Another fan agreed, appreciating why they made the call, but implying the USGA to ramp up the difficulty: “Not my US Open.

“I applaud looking at the wind forecast and adjusting but this is too cautious. Shinnecock is not supposed to play soft! Put the teeth back in the course!”

One fan noted that this felt more like the Canadian Open from last week than your usual US Open: “I’m worried that Golf Canada has infiltrated the USGA and is setting up our national open. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d see Shinnecock cosplaying as TPC Toronto.

“Slow the greens down as much as needed, but keep them firm for goodness sake. Sad!”

Fans begged the USGA to make the greens firmer for the final three days: “Should be like Royal Melbourne in February, harder and faster than concrete.”

Another fan said, “Stop watering the greens. Let nature do its thing.”

In truth, the US Open has not been as brutal of a test as it once was decades ago. The USGA seems afraid to upset the players in the modern era, meaning the event rarely lives up to the pre-tournament hype.

One fan said, “Every year everybody on Twitter hypes up how hard it’s going to be then the USGA swoops in and saves the players.”

The USGA made the right call with Shinnecock setup

In reality, the USGA were stuck between a rock and a hard place. The pre-tournament forecast forced them into this decision, and they simply got unlucky that the howling wind never really came.

If they had made the greens any firmer, and if the winds were any stronger, then balls would have blown off the greens, and play would have been suspended. In fact, in the morning wave we did see balls being shifted by the wind on the seventh green in particular.

And if the USGA set the golf course up in a way that threatened play to be stopped, they’d have been slammed for that too. They could not win in this scenario.

The USGA are now simply victims of their own reputation. If this was a PGA Championship, nobody would complain.

After heavy fog delayed Thursday's first round of the 2026 U.S. Open, the weather could be a factor again at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Round 2.

The historic William Flynn-designed layout is always going to be subject to the ever-changing conditions on Long Island. Whoever is going to claim this year's title will have to defeat not only the best players in the world but Mother Nature as well.

This will be the sixth time the U.S. Open has been contested at Shinnecock, with a champions list that includes Brooks Koepka (2018), Retief Goosen (2004), Corey Pavin (1996) and Raymond Floyd (1986).

Here's the updated weather forecast for U.S. Open weekend.

U.S. Open weather forecast

The U.S. Open got underway June 18, AccuWeather has posted its 10-day forecast for Shinnecock Hills, N.Y. Bear in mind that thunderstorms are always a possibility for the area during the summertime.

Friday, June 19 (Round 2)

• Stiff winds with clouds giving way to sun; gusty winds will continue to pose problems for golfers

Saturday, June 20 (Round 3)

• Stiff winds with plenty of sunshine; gusty winds will continue to pose problems for golfers

Sunday, June 21 (Round 4)

• Times of clouds and sunshine; nice for Father's Day activities

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Open forecasts windy weather and possible issues for golfers Friday

Jun. 18—BEMIDJI — Tina Offerdahl knows exactly what club to use on the seventh hole at the Bemidji Town and Country Club.

The Bemidji High School girls golf coach picked up her second hole-in-one on No. 7, a 114-yard par 3. Offerdahl used her 8 iron for the ace.

Offerdahl made the hole-in-one on Wednesday, June 17.

Manav Shah of Bakersfield is playing in the U.S. Open golf championship tournament at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton N.Y. Scheduled to start at 11:42 a.m. Pacific time on Thursday, morning fog forced a two-hour delay in the opening round. As a result, Shah’s first-round tee time won’t be until at least 1:42 p.m. Pacific (4:42 p.m. Eastern). Shah is playing in the final group of the day and will start on the No. 10 tee.

Shah’s second-round tee time Friday is scheduled for 8:47 a.m. Pacific, but that, too, could be altered if players are not able to finish their opening round Thursday. Shah and others would come back early in the morning Friday to complete the first round before second-round play could begin.

Tommy Fleetwood has suggested that it was helpful for him to be playing alongside Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg during the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Fleetwood is off to a promising start at the third major of the year. The Englishman finished his day inside the top 20 after posting a level par round of 70 in New York.

The FedEx Cup champion was involved in one of the marquee groups of the opening day.

Tommy Fleetwood reacts to playing with Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg at the US Open

Fleetwood was teeing it up alongside Ludvig Aberg and Rory McIlroy. Of course, the trio have probably not played golf together in New York since helping Europe win last year’s Ryder Cup.

Their group was among those who faced arguably the worst of the conditions on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills.

Nevertheless, they all have reason to be extremely happy with their performances in the first round.

Both Aberg and McIlroy posted rounds of 69 to leave themselves one shot ahead of Fleetwood. It could have easily been even better for the Northern Irishman, with McIlroy making two bogeys on his final two holes.

And speaking after his round, Fleetwood explained how beneficial it was to play alongside his two good friends.

“I think we had a good group today. The round started to get away from me a little bit when I made the turn, made two like poor three-putts. But I think sometimes it almost helps when you’ve got two guys going really well. Not that they can kind of drag you up,” he said.

“If you’re struggling, it gives you a false reflection of maybe what’s going on. Those two were having two of the best rounds of the day. So it kind of helps you in a way. It kind of drags you a little bit.

“Other than that, it’s hard. Just watching how shots react, particularly like putts. It’s so windy out there. The job’s never done even when you hit the green. Greens are so small in terms of the areas to hit it at, but then it’s still really tough from there.

“It’s like constant. Like you are watching them just to kind of get some kind of feel or read on the putt.”

Why the US Open may present Tommy Fleetwood’s best chance at major glory

Much has been made of the need for Fleetwood to win a major sooner rather than later. The 35-year-old has the capability to do so, and his victory at East Lake last year will have given him even more belief.

There is good reason to think that win is most likely to come at the US Open one year.

Fleetwood has more top five finishes at the US Open than any other major. And his best result, a second place finish, came the last time the event was held at Shinnecock Hills.

On that occasion in 2018, Fleetwood managed to set the course record with a 63 on Sunday.

So there will be plenty of players who are worried about Fleetwood if he keeps himself in the mix over the coming days.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – The United States Golf Association nailed the course setup at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the first round of the 126^th U.S. Open on Thursday.

“It's about as fair as you can probably get it,” England’s Tommy Fleetwood said. “I was surprised on Monday the course was very, very soft and slow, but they clearly judged it perfectly, and I think today -- well, hardly anybody would want to play it any harder than what it was.”

USGA chief competitions officer John Bodenhamer warned that a forecast of gusting southerly winds had caused the setup team to scale back the speed of the greens and syringe them with water between the two waves in order to avoid losing the course as had happened in 2004 and 2018 at previous Opens held here. Tough but fair was the USGA mantra and it delivered that in spades. The kudos were dished out in abundance.

“The greens are pretty slow and quite receptive. I think they need to be at this point. It's a challenging golf course already, and you put 30-mile-an-hour winds on top of it, it tests the best players in the world pretty well,” Rory McIlroy said. "I think they were prudent with the course setup, and they made sure to -- I think especially with starting with 156 the first two days, you just want to get everyone around without too much issue. They've set the course up for that, at least today."

Along with weddings, one of the great traditions of June is golfers complaining that the rough is too high, the greens too slick and the hole locations unfair. But there wasn’t much complaining to be found among the field of 156 at Shinnecock.

More: U.S. Open hub: Stories, scores, video and more

“The greens were softer than I expected, but thank goodness they were. There was a few times where my ball was, like, wiggling, like oscillating a little bit. They did what they had to do to play today. They did a great job. They should be commended for that,” said world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. “It's often where we've had instances where it's gone the other way, and they did a good job of that today.”

Even Keegan Bradley, who has been a critic of the USGA for taking away the belly putter he once used, had nothing but glowing things to say.

“The USGA did a great job setting the course up because, if the greens were any faster or firmer, we might not be playing right now,” he said.

Heavy fog was the headline story in the morning, suspending play for 2 hours. The marine layer lifted and play resumed, and then the wind kicked in and became a big factor, increasing dramatically through lunchtime, with sustained values of 15-20 miles per hour and reaching towards 30 to 36 mph. Fleetwood was one of several players that noted the wind messed with the mind, even on the putting green.

“If you play for the wind and it stops, then it's going to miss. If you don't play wind and it pumps, then it's going to miss as well. You've got to get it in at the right time,” he said.

The wind relaxed later in the evening, giving a slight advantage to the late wave, but is expected to remain elevated into Friday morning. 

While the USGA received near universal praise for its course setup, Brooks Koepka was the closest to moan and groan, saying, "It's just weird how soft the greens are. It's just odd. It's not what I remember. I mean, I understand why they're soft, I get that. It's not complaining. It's just a difficult day."

Tomorrow is a new day, and we'll see if the USGA can get the setup right two days in a row.

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Golfers applaud USGA for fair U.S. Open course setup

Who is Ryder Cowan? U.S. Open amateur came through qualifying to lead at Shinnecock Hills originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

At least at one point on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills, the leader at the U.S. Open was an amateur.

His name: Ryder Cowan. He needed to advance through the recent qualifying stages just to get into the tournament.

And while it might not hold, at one point, he sat 3-under while no one else in the field was at that number.

So it's time to get to know a bit about Cowan.

MORE: How Keith Mitchell turned a 41-29 into the craziest round in U.S. Open history

Who is Ryder Cowan?

Cowan just completed his junior year as a collegiate golfer at the University of Oklahoma.

He stayed in his home state to play college golf for the Sooners after winning two state championships in high school.

Cowan was a finalist for the Haskins Trophy in 2026 -- the college golf award for the best player in the country.

How did Ryder Cowan qualify for the U.S. Open?

He qualified at the event at Ballen Isles Country Club in Florida.

Cowan shot a 6-under 138, then advanced in a playoff to seize the final spot at the U.S. Open.

Ryder Cowan in Drive, Chip, Putt

Cowan also has a noteworthy golf past:

U.S. Open leader Ryder Cowan was runner-up in @DriveChipPutt National Finals a mere 7 years ago. pic.twitter.com/hvz5OduZcz

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2026

This may not be the last time we hear his name.

MORE: A fan picked up Rory's golf ball in the middle of a hole

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Retief Goosen, one of the five men coming into this week who have claimed a U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, is busy these days trying to beat the best players aged 50 and older.

Goosen, 57, won in April on the PGA Tour Champions (commonly referred to as the Champions Tour). And as the professional golf world continues to shift amid uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf, the two-time U.S. Open winner wants to see his former PGA Tour colleagues join the senior circuit.

“We would love to see those guys back,” Goosen said when asked by Front Office Sports Thursday at a small roundtable discussion in a viewing suite perched just above Shinnecock’s 17th hole hosted by Rolex, the luxury watch brand for which the golfer has worked for 25 years.

Goosen—a World Golf Hall of Famer and winner of the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock and the 2001 edition in Tulsa, Oklahoma—gave his thoughts on the future of professional golf, including LIV, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods. Some of the quotes below have been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.

On LIV players over 50 (like Lee Westwood or Ian Poulter) competing on the Champions Tour:

We would like to see some of those guys. The few events Phil Mickelson played early on—he played five events, and he won four of them—we had more crowds at those events than they have at LPGA events. Our TV coverage was higher, too. So, we would love to see those guys back, and somehow get back, because the Champions Tour is all about the legends. You’re supposed to play on the Champions Tour if you’ve been a legend on the PGA Tour.

On Tiger Woods, who turned 50 in December, joining the Champions Tour:

We would like to see Tiger out there. He’s the main man we want to see and play. I hope he recovers soon. At least start playing a couple of Champions Tour events just to get into the rhythm of playing a game, and not think “Okay, my first event is going to be a U.S. Open.”

On the future of the Champions Tour:

At the moment there is, I think, zero interest in trying to improve the Champions Tour from the PGA Tour side. The PGA Tour just does its own thing. I think once we get some of these legend guys playing on the Champions Tour, they will probably start showing a little bit more interest in “let’s take this tour to another level.”

On the idea of lowering the minimum age for the Champions Tour to 45:

There was that talk. We felt that the vision was 50. These guys are all athletes now. Adam Scott’s playing his 100th consecutive major, and he’s 45, isn’t he? So, we don’t want him out there yet kicking our backside.

On the success of LIV’s debut South Africa event in March:

The atmosphere was great. It sold out every day—30,000, 40,000 people. It was great for golf, especially being played right in Johannesburg; a lot of people could come in. The venue went down very well. And unfortunately, that event won’t happen again, but it was a great boost for South African golf.

On whether South Africa golf officials could strike a deal with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour like Golf Australia has done to boost the Australian Open: 

I would hope so. Who knows what’s going to happen with all these LIV guys when it finishes. What are the penalties going to be? When can they play? When can’t they play? We would love to see them down in South Africa and come and play the South African Open.

The post Two-Time U.S. Open Champ: LIV Players Welcome on Champions Tour appeared first on Front Office Sports.

How Keith Mitchell turned a 41-29 into the craziest round in U.S. Open history originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

At the end of it all, Keith Mitchell looked quite disheveled.

Yes, in some ways, that was more down to the conditions at a windy, nasty Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Thursday to begin the 2026 U.S. Open. But it was also because Mitchell had just shot the craziest even-par round in the history of the PGA Tour.

Mitchell ended up with a 70 on a course that is a par-70.

There's never been an even-par that looked like this.

Mitchell went out with a 6-over 41 on the back nine, where he began his round.

He double-bogeyed with a 6 on the par-4 10th. Then he bogeyed the par-3 11th.

Mitchell added bogeys on the par-4 13th and par-4 14th, and another bogey on the par-5 16th.

When he made the turn to the front, though, everything changed.

Mitchell shot a 6-under 29 on the front.

Birdie on the par-4 1st. Birdies on both Nos. 3 and 4, which were both par-4s.

He eagled the par-5 5th.

And Mitchell closed out his round with one more birdie, on the par-4 9th.

He had five squares, including a double square, in his first nine holes.

He had five circled holes, included a double circle, in the back half of his round.

41-29… E par 70

Psycho scorecard for Keith Mitchell 🤯 https://t.co/2ikHQmWi1Fpic.twitter.com/tP5b2Zn3yU

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 18, 2026

Some of that is likely down to the conditions.

Some of that is likely down to luck.

And some of that certainly must be credited to Mitchell for not moping and instead figuring something out to improve his day.

On a course that's going to be very hard to score on, going 6-under on nine holes is remarkable. He's put himself right back in the hunt heading into the second round.

You may never see another 41-29 again.

MORE: A fan picked up Rory's golf ball in the middle of a hole

In the first round of his first bid to complete the career Grand Slam, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler went on a bit of a rollercoaster ride.

Scheffler's scorecard featured every number from two through six, as he made four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey to post 2-over 72 Thursday at the 126th U.S. Open on an exceptionally windy day at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, with a steady breeze of 20 mph and gusts nearing 40 mph.

"Any time you get conditions like this, I think the scores are going to be high. It's an interesting golf course," said Scheffler, who didn't qualify for the 2018 U.S. Open, the last time the event was played at Shinnecock. "Part of the challenge so far is judging the conditions as well, judging how this course is going to play. I feel like this course can change pretty rapidly from day to day. I think that's also part of the challenge of the tournament is adjusting to those conditions."

Scheffler opened with three straight pars before going bogey-birdie-bogey at Nos. 4-6. On the eighth, he broke the golden rule of Shinnecock: avoid the native grass at all costs. His tee shot found the wispy fescue, ultimately leading to a three-putt double bogey and a 3-over 38 on the front nine. The back nine was much better, as Scheffler made birdies on Nos. 12, 14 and 17 to offset a pair of bogeys and come home in 1-under 34.

"It was a really challenging day," Scheffler said. "If you told me when I was staring at my par putt on 9 that I would post 2-over today, I would definitely have taken it at the time. Overall it was a good battle. Get some rest, and we'll see how the course changes over the next day."

This week marks Scheffler's first crack at the career Grand Slam after he won both the PGA Championship and the British Open last year to go along with his pair of Masters wins. He's already had several close calls at the U.S. Open in recent years, most notably at Brookline in 2022 when he finished in a tie for second, losing to Matt Fitzpatrick by one shot.

Slow starts have plagued Scheffler all season and kept him out of the winner's circle since January. While Thursday's first round certainly didn't put him in prime position to win, there's a long way to go and with windy conditions expected to persist throughout the weekend on Long Island, he's far from out of it.

Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: US Open 2026: Scottie Scheffler shoots 72 in first round at Shinnecock

Bryson DeChambeau, welcome to the 2026 U.S. Open.

The two-time U.S. Open champion had a clutch par save on his second hole of the day, the par-3 11th, before stepping on the tee of the downhill, downwind par-4 12th. He pulled out driver and unleashed a mighty lash at the golf ball, and away it went.

It bounced toward the end of the fairway, off Tuckahoe Road and then continued rolling into the far part of the fairway. When it finally settled, it measured as a 427-yard blast.

3... 2... 1... LIFTOFF! 🚀

Bryson's drive on 12 was already big, then it hit the road and ended up going 427 yards. pic.twitter.com/hqvtZhRu0Z

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2026

The shot was the longest drive of the day at the U.S. Open. It resulted in a birdie to move him to 1 under on the day, one behind clubhouse leader Sam Stevens.

DeChambeau comes into the U.S. Open having missed the cut in the first two majors of the year, and he missed the weekend at Oakmont a year ago. If he can continue to hit tee shots like the one he did on the 12th, he's going to be in contention for his third major title come Sunday.

Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Watch: Bryson DeChambeau blasts 427-yard drive at US Open 2026

Jing Yan sometimes forgets to pack a jacket when she comes to Michigan for the Meijer LPGA Classic. With temperatures in the 50s until about 11 a.m., and the wind kicking up to gusts of 25 to 30 mph, layers were key in the opening round at Blythefield Country Club.

"Tell myself to just try and toughen up," said Jing Yan, who shot 4-under 68 on Thursday to trail China's Yan Liu by two. Yan, 30, praised the conditions of the course, calling it the best she's seen in her time on tour.

Liu's 6-under 66 included four birdies in five holes to close out the front side. She hit nine fairways, 14 greens and took only 27 putts.

"I feel before today, start my driver is kind of miss two ways, but I figure out by myself," she said, smiling.

For a number of players near the top of the board, Thursday was a bright spot for the season. Italy's Benedetta Moresco shot 68, her lowest round since late March. Moresco has missed four cuts in her last six starts.

Daniela Darquea, ranked 282nd in the world, made her previous three starts on the Ladies European Tour, where she has played most of the season. She's trying to make the most of a rare week on the LPGA, opening with a 68.

"I feel like every year that I've been here the course has been playing a little bit different," said Darquea. "I would say firmer, but today with the wind it was a big challenge. We were lucky. It wasn't as firm as other years, so it was easier to like club. However, the winds picked up big time during the round, so it was quite interesting, very fun round to play."

Juliaaaaaaa ace! 🚨

Julia Lopez Ramirez knocked in this ace early on thursday at the Meijer LPGA Classic pic.twitter.com/uk29pA2xM8

— LPGA (@LPGA) June 18, 2026

Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez, one of the longest players in the game, notched her first ace on the LPGA with a 7-iron from 170 yards on the par-3 13th.

"It was blowing pretty hard down there," said Lopez Ramirez. "It was a left-to-right wind and we got a number that was basically my full 7-iron. I was saying, oh, maybe it's a six. She was like, no, no, hit the seven. This is the club. Pitch like 2 meters short, like the perfect fade. Pitch 2 short, another bounce, and rolled in; throw the club up, hands in the air. I was like, no way."

Lopez Ramirez opened with a 71.

Three-time major winner In Gee Chun and mom Azahara Munoz are in pack at 3 under. Hannah Green, Megan Khang and the statuesque rookie Helen Briem are among those at 2 under.

World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul got off to a rough start, 4 over through her first 11 holes.

Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the LPGA and women's golf.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Cool temps, high winds rule opening day at Meijer LPGA Classic

A bad attitude rarely ever leads to success on the golf course, but especially not on a golf course as punishing as Shinnecock Hills.

So when Sam Stevens arrived for the 2026 U.S. Open, he knew he had to flush the "crappy" attitude that has plagued his game in recent weeks. And it worked. He made six birdies en route to a 2-under 68 in Thursday's opening round and sat alone atop the leaderboard as of 3:30 p.m. ET.

"I wouldn't say I'm surprised. I haven't played as well over the last month or so — to be honest, I've had a really crappy attitude, which makes golf a lot harder," Stevens said. "I got a week at home last week and just kind of focusing on trying to stay positive and kind of enjoy playing a little more. I've played well this year. I just haven't had maybe the best last month or so. So I'm not super surprised, but I'm grateful to shoot a couple under."

What a start to the U.S. Open for Sam Stevens.

A 2-under 68 with six (!) birdies, most in the field. pic.twitter.com/IIYDRxh8a5

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2026

Stevens, who has never won on the PGA Tour, made the cut in all but one of his first 13 starts in 2026, recording five top-25 finishes, with his best result coming at the Houston Open, where he was solo fifth. But since the beginning of May, the former Oklahoma State Cowboy hasn't finished better than 42nd and missed the cut in his latest start at the Memorial Tournament. So what changed?

"Having a little too high expectations, then the moment that those expectations aren't met, being a little more upset than I need to be," Stevens said. "No broken clubs or anything yet. So that's good. Yeah, it's kind of one of those things. It's a long season. I played a lot the first half of the season. It's easy to get worn down a little bit, and I just haven't been as on top of keeping a good attitude as I should have been. I don't know, just a week at home is always nice, a little perspective."

Shinnecock is no place to be messing around with expectations that are too high, especially when the wind is blowing upwards of 40 mph on a course that's a treacherous challenge even when the breeze isn't stiff. Good shots can go unrewarded and bad breaks are aplenty. Stevens knows that. He caught one on his first hole of the day, the par-4 10th. He hit his tee shot in the fairway and as he was preparing to play his approach, officials put a stop to the action due to dense fog — a delay that lasted two hours.

"I teed off on 10, and I was getting ready to hit my second shot, and they blew the horn, which I thought was great because you couldn't even see the pin. It was pretty foggy or whatever it was, misty," Stevens said. "During the delay, I'm playing with two Oklahoma State guys actually, and my old assistant coach is caddying for Eric Lee. We were just kind of sitting on the range kind of chitchatting. Just kind of kept delaying it 15 minutes at a time. So you had to stay ready because you never knew when you were going to have to go right back out. It was pretty relaxed and chill."

When Stevens returned to hit his second shot at No. 10, it didn't go as planned. His ball hit the green and spun back off the front. Then he "flubbed" his third shot. He finally reached the green with his fourth, then two-putted for a double bogey. Not exactly an ideal start to a major championship, and if he still had that "crappy" attitude, things might have gone south. That wasn't the case, though.

Stevens bounced right back with a birdie at the par-3 11th, added another at the par-3 17th and three more at Nos. 1, 3 and 5. He bogeyed the eighth but bounced back again with a birdie at No. 9 to finish off his round and head into Friday with some serious momentum.

"Drove the ball well. Hit my irons really well, I felt like. Had a lot of birdie looks," Stevens said. "The greens were a little bit softer. They had to water them. I felt like you could hit good shots close to the hole, and then made a few nice putts, so overall good."

Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow Nick on X/Twitter (@nickstavas)

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: US Open 2026: Sam Stevens flushes 'crappy' attitude, opens with 68

Don't hit it into the rough at the U.S. Open. Even more so, don't hit it into the wispy stuff at Shinnecock Hills.

Patrick Reed found out the hard way Thursday in the opening round, with his tee shot on the 14th traveling 347 yards but ending up in the long stuff right of the fairway. Then he stepped up for his second shot, and cover your eyes.

The fescue at Shinnecock is no joke. pic.twitter.com/MO3da2zCvZ

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2026

A hosel rocket normally saved for amateurs, the grass just grabs Reed's club as he tries to make contact and sends the ball almost straight left into the rough on the other side of the fairway.

Reed managed to make bogey on the hole and signed for 2-over 72 on Thursday, a solid score in difficult conditions during the first round. However, the highlight of his round was a lowlight that reminded everyone pros are like us sometimes.

Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, focusing on college and amateur golf as well as LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Patrick Reed hits hosel rocket, nasty shank at US Open 2026

Editor's note: Follow along for updates and highlights from Round 1 of the U.S. Open.

The 2026 U.S. Open is shaping up to be a brutal test for the world's best golfers. High winds, a two-hour fog delay and the challenges already presented by Shinnecock Hills Golf Club have produced a Round 1 leaderboard with only a select few under par, much like the last time the U.S. Open was held at the Southampton, New York course.

The tricky greens and conditions are changing from hole to hole, with significant wind gusts projected to affect the rest of Thursday's tee times and Friday's second round. There are more players than usual struggling as a result and the projected cut line will loom large over every mistake.

Scottie Scheffler, defending U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun and Si Woo Kim are among the top golfers off to rough starts, though there's plenty of time left to work their way back into contention. Only the top 60 golfers (and ties) after 36 holes of tournament play make the cut for the final two rounds this weekend.

Here's a live cut line tracker for the 2026 U.S. Open, as well as the current leaderboard and an updated projection of where the cut line is right now and where the cut line is most likely to fall by the end of play on Friday:

2026 U.S. OPEN: Apparel for Jason Day, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Young and more

US Open 2026 cut line right now

As of 2 p.m. ET on Thursday at the 2026 U.S. Open, the projected cut line is +5 based on the scores of the top 60 golfers (and ties) on the current leaderboard. All golfers with a score of +5 or better would make it to the weekend at Shinnecock Hills. However, only 78 of the 156 golfers in the field have teed off.

US Open cut line rules

The top 60 golfers (and ties) make the 36-hole cut at the 2026 U.S. Open. The cut line at last year's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club was +7. The cut line during the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills wound up at +8.

Live projected U.S. Open cut line

The predictive model used by Datagolf.com currently projects +5 to be the most likely cut line for the 2026 U.S. Open (35% chance). There is currently a 26.2% chance it drops to +4, and a 21% chance it gets up to +6 by the end of Friday's second round, according to the website.

US Open golfers on cut bubble

• Chris Gotterup: +4 (13)
• Cameron Smith: +5 (15)
• Graeme McDowell: +5 (15)
• Daniel Berger: +5 (14)
• Sepp Straka: +5 (13)
• J.J. Spaun: +5 (11)
• Mason Howell (a): +7 (11)
• Si Woo Kim: +8 (13)

U.S. Open live leaderboard today

* — Started round on 10th hole

• 1. Sam Stevens: -2 (16)*
• T2. Rory McIlroy: -1 (13)*
• T2. Ludvig Åberg: -1 (13)*
• T2. Ben James: -1 (12)*
• T5. Adrien Dumont de Chassart: E (15)*
• T5. Kristoffer Reitan: E (14)*
• T5. Keegan Bradley: E (14)
• T5. Rickie Fowler: E (14)
• T5. Sam Burns: E (14)*
• T5. Max Greyserman: E (12)*
• T5. Brian Harman: E (12)*
• T5. Alex Fitzpatrick: E (12)*

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US Open cut line tracker 2026: Live updates, projected cut for Friday

U.S. Open free live streams: How to watch 2026 golf coverage online without cable originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, this week, where defending champion J.J. Spaun will be looking to hold off the field on one of the most storied courses in the country.

At par 70 and stretching roughly 7,440 yards, Shinnecock has a long history of humbling the world's best: Only Retief Goosen has managed to finish as low as -4 in the modern era. Brooks Koepka won there in 2018 at +1.

Spaun arrives as the man to beat, but several other former winners will be out on the course with him. This includes champions like Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, and Jordan Spieth.

Here's how to watch the 2026 U.S. Open for free, including TV channel and streaming options for the annual golf tournament. 

LIVE: Updated U.S. Open leaderboard

U.S. Open free live streams

• TV channels: USA Network, NBC
• Live streams:DIRECTV

The 2026 U.S. Open will be broadcast live on USA Network and NBC. Cord-cutters can also stream the main broadcast on DIRECTV, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. 

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

U.S. Open schedule 2026: Day-by-day TV, free streaming coverage

Here is the full U.S. Open schedule, which takes place from place from Thursday, June 18 to Sunday, June 21, 2026 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.

Fans can stream the USA and NBC broadcasts for free with DIRECTV's trial period for new users. 

List of U.S. Open winners by year

Related Links

• Latest golf news and rumors
• Golf tournament leaderboard
• LIV Golf schedule 2026
• How to bet on golf

U.S. Open 2026 tee times, pairings, featured groups for Rounds 1-2 at Shinnecock Hills originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 U.S. Open could rocket Scottie Scheffler into a historic club. 

Scheffler just needs a victory at the U.S. Open to complete the career grand slam, and the final round of this year's U.S. Open happens to land on his 30th birthday. Have the stars aligned for one of the faces of golf to have his moment of glory at Shinnecock Hills?

While Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have each won multiple majors over the last two years, there have been a couple of surprises as well. J.J. Spaun stunningly won the U.S. Open a year ago, and the last player to win a major is Aaron Rai, who surged to the front of a crowded PGA Championship leaderboard in May.

The result isn't promised, but drama is likely as the U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills for the first time since 2018.

Here are the tee times and featured groups for Rounds 1-2 of the 2026 U.S. Open.

LIVE: Updated U.S. Open leaderboard

U.S. Open featured groups 2026

Thursday, June 18

• 7:30 a.m. – Brooks Koepka, Cameron Young, Chris Gotterup (off 1)
• 7:52 a.m. – Rory McIloy, Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood (off 10)
• 8:14 a.m.  – Mason Howell, Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun (off 1)
• 1:25 p.m. — Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick (off 10)
• 1:47 p.m. — Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele (off 1)
• 2:09 p.m. — Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm (off 10)

U.S. Open first round tee times and pairings

Here's when the field will tee off on Thursday to start the 2026 U.S. Open.

Note: A fog delay in place on Thursday caused Round 1's tee times to be pushed back. Play will begin at 9:05 a.m. ET. 

Round 1: Thursday, June 18

First tee

Tenth tee

Round 2: Thursday, June 19

First tee

Tenth tee

Wyndham Clark has explained that playing in the wind at Shinnecock Hills is easier than at Augusta National because of how straightforward it is to work out what direction it is going in.

The US Open is going to drive a number of the world’s best players crazy over the next few days. Only a handful of players have ever finished a US Open at Shinnecock Hills under par for the week.

Of course, it is often the most thorough examination of a player’s game. The rough looks to be extremely brutal at Shinnecock Hills, while the green complexes are almost certainly going to catch out those who are struggling with their irons.

But the wind is also going to have a huge say on who emerges victorious this week.

Wyndham Clark compares playing at Shinnecock Hills with Augusta National

When it is calm over Shinnecock, the golf course plays much easier. However, the forecast suggests that ball flight is going to have to be considered before every single shot this week.

The one positive is how simple it is to work out the wind direction. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Wyndham Clark explained why it is easier to contend with than when playing at The Masters.

“If I look at a course that everyone would know, at Augusta, hole 12, because the trees cover the first 100 feet of the golf ball, it doesn’t get hit by the wind. And then it gets above it and the wind might be something different. A lot of times you know, hey, the first-half’s not going to get hit by the wind, only the last half,” he said.

“The one good thing about Shinnecock is there’s no trees on the golf course, so it should be the same at all times. You have a huge American flag right where the clubhouse is, so you can see exactly where the wind’s blowing at all times, which is quite nice.”

The change Wyndham Clark has made to his bag ahead of the US Open

There are arguably too many venues on the PGA Tour that do not ask a variety of questions of players.

Clark himself triumphed at The CJ CUP Byron Nelson earlier this season on a golf course that is largely forgettable in TPC Craig Ranch.

So it is no surprise that a number of players look set to make changes to their bags for the US Open.

Clark suggested that he wanted to include a club that would allow him to keep the ball under the wind more often.

“I typically have a four iron and then I go five wood, three wood, driver. So this week I’m putting in a two iron, especially for the first few days, because we’re going to have some [shots] dead into the wind, and if you hit it high, you never know what the wind’s going to do to the golf ball. So you want to keep the ball really low,” he said.

“Fortunately, we play quite a bit of golf over in the UK on links golf, so you get used to the wind. You get used to hitting it low.”

It certainly appears that even the very best players on the PGA Tour are gearing up for a real battle over the next few days.

Clark will hope that the game-plan he has constructed will secure him a second US Open title.

Michael Kim is one of the most vocal players in the professional game.

He is obviously very charming and polite on the golf course, but he takes on a completely different persona online.

The 32-year-old often shares his unfiltered views on the current state of the professional game on his X account.

And Michael Kim took to his social media on Wednesday to share his opinion on the golf ball rollback.

The USGA hierarchy spoke with the media on Wednesday afternoon at Shinnecock Hills ahead of the US Open.

Mike Whan and John Bodenhamer outlined how they need to look further into whether the golf ball rollback is actually the correct move for the professional game.

Michael Kim proposes rule change after USGA’s golf ball rollback announcement

On Tuesday, Kim gave fans a detailed rundown of how Shinnecock Hills will play this week at the US Open.

And then on Wednesday, he responded to the USGA announcing that they have pushed back the implementation of the golf ball rollback until 2030.

“If they truly want “shotmaking” to be more important, then going to 10 clubs will make that happen instantly,“ Kim said.

“I think the USGA want less bomb and gouge, yet the rollback will only make driver and distance even MORE important.“

10-club rule would make for incredibly exciting golf

That is a seriously good suggestion from Michael Kim.

Can you imagine the best golfers in the world being forced to get creative with only 10 clubs in their bags?

It would be so exciting to watch.

We would find out very quickly who the most talented golfers are as well.

One thing’s for sure, Michael Kim’s suggestion is far better than the USGA’s current plan to roll back the golf ball.

U.S. Open 2026 tee times, TV coverage, live streams and more to watch Thursday's Round 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The U.S. Open heads to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, from June 18-21, with defending champion J.J. Spaun among a strong field on the par-70 layout that stretches roughly 7,440 yards.

The course has hosted five U.S. Opens dating to 1896, with past winners including Brooks Koepka, Retief Goosen and Raymond Floyd.

Spaun won last year at -1, and he'll need a similar performance to hold off a field loaded with experience.

Former U.S. Open champions Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Thomas are all in the field this week.

Below is everything you need to know about the 2026 U.S. Open schedule, including tee times, TV channels, and how to live stream the action from start to finish.

LIVE: Updated U.S. Open leaderboard

Where to watch the U.S. Open 2026

• Dates: Thursday, June 18-Sunday, June 21, 2026
• TV channels: NBC, NBCSN, the Golf Channel, USA Network
• Live streams: DIRECTV, Peacock

Fans can tune in to the U.S. Open on traditional broadcast television via USA Network and NBC. DIRECTV and Peacock also offer live streams of the golf tournament. See the full TV and streaming schedule below. 

U.S. Open tee times and pairings 2026

Round 1: Thursday, June 18

Round 2: Friday, June 19

U.S. Open schedule 2026: Day-by-day TV, streaming coverage

List of U.S. Open winners by year

Related Links

• Latest golf news and rumors
• Golf tournament leaderboard
• LIV Golf schedule 2026
• How to bet on golf

U.S. Open golf schedule 2026: Day-by-day TV coverage to watch on NBC, USA and stream online originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The third major championship of the golf season is here, with the 126th U.S. Open set for Father's Day weekend at Shinnecock Hills.

The Southampton, New York club is hosting the tournament for the sixth time, dating to the second U.S. Open championship in 1896. The course provides a notoriously difficult test for the world's best golfers; of the four U.S. Opens held at Shinnecock in the modern era, only Retief Goosen in 2004 (-4) won with a score better than 1 under par.

The most recent U.S. Open winner there was Brooks Koepka (+1) in 2018 and he'll be looking for his first major win since the 2023 PGA Championship this week. His best finish at a major since then was a tie for 12th in last year's U.S. Open at Oakmont, where J.J. Spaun won his first major title. 

While you never quite know what you'll get at a U.S. Open, the usual suspects are favored entering the tournament. That list starts with Scottie Scheffler, who will try to complete the career grand slam with a win this week, and also includes the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm. 

It should be a fascinating weekend on Long Island. Here's everything you need to know about when and where to tune in and follow the action. 

LIVE: Updated 2026 U.S. Open leaderboard

Where to watch U.S. Open golf in 2026

• TV channels: NBC, USA Network, NBCSN
• Live streams:DIRECTV, Peacock, YouTube TV

The 2026 U.S. Open will air live on NBC, USA Network and Peacock, depending on the day and time slot (see the full schedule below).

NBC and USA Network coverage can be streamed with DIRECTV, which offers a free trial for new users.

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

Peacock coverage will also air on NBCSN, which is available via YouTube TV and some other providers. 

U.S. Open golf schedule 2026: Day-by-day TV, streaming coverage

Thursday, June 18 (Round 1)

Friday, June 19 (Round 2)

Saturday, June 20 (Round 3)

Sunday, June 21 (Round 4)

U.S. Open tee times, leaderboard 2026

Click here for the latest tee times and scores on The Sporting News golf leaderboard.

List of U.S. Open winners by year 

Here's a look at the winners of the U.S. Open Championship in each of the previous 10 tournaments. 

Related Links

• Latest golf news and rumors
• Golf tournament leaderboard
• How to bet on golf

Where is the U.S. Open in 2026? Location, distance, course details for Shinnecock Hills originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

J.J. Spaun put on a show at Oakmont in 2025, stunningly winning the U.S. Open with the help of a 64-foot putt. Will another unlikely player rise to the top this year?

All eyes are on Scottie Scheffler's pursuit of the career grand slam, which would coincide with his 30th birthday on Sunday, but only one golfer in the U.S. Open's 156-player field will be able to walk away a champion.

U.S. Open courses tend to be some of the most challenging players will face all year, and that should certainly be the case again in 2026.

Here's a look at the course every U.S. Open participant will be taking on this weekend.

MORE:Who has won the most U.S. Opens?

Where is the U.S. Open in 2026?

• Course: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club
• Location: Southampton, New York

The U.S. Open is back at Shinnecock Hills for the sixth time and the first time since 2018, when Brooks Koepka won the event for the second consecutive year.

Shinnecock Hills is a links-style course located near Southampton, New York, a multi-hour drive from New York City near the far end of Long Island. The course previously hosted the U.S. Open in 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004 and 2018.

Here's what you need to know about the course and what players are facing this weekend.

MORE: U.S. Open winners by year: List of past champions, payouts

Shinnecock Hills course details

• Par: 70
• Distance: 7,440 yards

Players will play a 70-par, 7,440-yard course at Shinnecock Hills, with Par 3s on holes No.'s 2, 7, 11 and 17 plus Par 5s on holes No.'s 5 and 16.

Here's the full breakdown:

The field of 156 players will be reduced to the top 60, plus ties, after two days. 

Future US. Open sites

The U.S. Open will head out west to Pebble Beach in 2027 before returning to New York at Winged Foot Golf Club just north of New York City in 2028.

Sites for the next 15 U.S. Opens are below: