Top players battled brutal winds at the US Open, with the USGA’s course setup earning praise for its fairness despite the challenge. Scottie Scheffler opened with a two-over 72 while Rory McIlroy posted a one-under 69 as Shinnecock Hills tested the entire field.
Faced with forecasted gusts over 40 miles per hour, the USGA took action to avoid a repeat of past controversies at the New York course. Officials slowed the greens and syringed them between waves, a move that prevented chaos and drew approval from the players who endured the difficult conditions. Only a handful of players in the morning wave broke 70.
Padraig Harrington confirmed the challenge was manageable. “There obviously was a couple of tough holes, but all the tees were up. The pins were as easy as can be. Greens were soft. So it was a tough test but very, very fair.”
Scheffler, chasing the career Grand Slam, found himself in a scrap. His round of 72 was a grind, and he admitted good shots were not always rewarded. “Overall, it was a really challenging day. If you told me when I was staring at my par putt on nine that I would post two over today, I would definitely have taken it. It was a good battle.”
McIlroy, who shot 80 here in 2018, carded a 69 despite two closing bogeys. He credited the organisers for their foresight. “I think they were prudent with the course set-up. Especially starting with 156 [players] the first two days, you just want to get everyone around without too much issue. They set the course up for that, at least today.”
He entered the round with a clear strategy. “Went out with the mindset that pars were going to be good and if you could pick up a couple of birdies here and there, that’s always a bonus. Just minimizing the mistakes – I did that for the most part.” With play suspended for fog earlier in the day, the first round will conclude on Friday as the battle for the major continues.
