Overview
- The 126th U.S. Open begins Thursday at Shinnecock Hills with first-round tee times set and TV coverage on USA, NBC and Peacock.
- The USGA said it has “pulled every lever” and prepared slower greens between waves to offset stiff coastal winds and firm, links-style conditions.
- Forecasters predict sustained winds above 20 mph with gusts past 40 mph which, along with the setup, has oddsmakers and sportsbooks favoring an over-par winning total.
- Scottie Scheffler enters as the clear betting favorite with a career Grand Slam on the line while Brooks Koepka plans to play after a recent hand nerve issue that reduced his grip strength.
- The 156-player field mixes top pros, qualifiers and amateurs and returns to Shinnecock’s history of high scores where winners have rarely finished under par, shaping a week where iron play and course management will matter most.