The 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills faced a delayed start when thick fog suspended the first round at 7:05 a.m. ET on June 18, stopping play before most golfers completed two holes [1, 2, 3, 4]. Players waited on the course, practicing while conditions improved, as an official update confirmed, "Round 1 remains suspended. Next update: 8:00am. ET" [2].
Several players had teed off just before the suspension, including top names like Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, and amateur Ethan Fang [2, 5, 6]. Shinnecock Hills, a par-70 course, is known for its challenging, links-style layout with tough weather that often pushes scores higher [2, 7, 4]. "Shinnecock is hard, brutal at times, and a windy forecast for this links-style, exposed piece of property could see scores rocket," noted commentary from The Guardian [2].
Play resumed and the delayed first round was completed on June 19, with Wyndham Clark firing a course record 64 despite the difficult conditions and previous delays [7, 8]. Clark's score gave him a commanding six-shot lead heading into the final round on June 21 [9]. Scottie Scheffler struggled early with a first-round 72 but stayed competitive and began the final round at 1 under par [10, 9]. Rory McIlroy started strong but remained near even par through the tournament [10].
The third round featured a tight contest among top players including McIlroy and Scheffler as they tried to close the gap on Clark's lead [10]. As the final round began today, June 21, Clark holds a sizable advantage with the course record and steady play putting him in control [9].
