Players praised the USGA’s course management following Thursday’s opening round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Despite high winds and slow play, the consensus was that the course presented a difficult but fair test, a departure from historically contentious setups.
The tournament, often defined by player complaints, has so far been marked by compliments. Two-time champion Brooks Koepka, who finished his round with a 73, acknowledged the challenge while noting a key difference from previous years. “The conditions were tough,” Koepka stated. He then added, “It’s weird how soft the greens are. It’s odd. It’s not what I remember. I understand why they’re soft. I get that. [I’m] not complaining.”
This sentiment was shared by others who navigated the difficult scoring environment. Rory McIlroy, who carded a one-under 69, credited the organizers for their approach in the face of strong winds that affected play throughout the day. “It’s a challenging course already and then you put 30 mile-per-hour winds on it,” McIlroy said. He immediately followed with his assessment of the governing body’s decisions: “I think they were prudent with the course setup.”
The USGA appears to have successfully balanced the course’s difficulty with playability, particularly by maintaining some moisture in the greens to counteract the high winds. This prevented the putting surfaces from becoming overly firm, a major point of criticism in the 2004 and 2018 championships held at the same venue. The primary challenge for officials now is to maintain this balance through the weekend, ensuring the national champion is decided by skill rather than by a setup that crosses the line from tough to unmanageable.
