Photo Credit: PGA Tour
0
0
Wyndham Clark stole the spotlight during the opening round of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Many expected the historic course to punish players from the start. Instead, Clark delivered one of the best rounds of the day and built a commanding lead before darkness halted play.
Entering the championship, many analysts predicted difficult scoring conditions. Shinnecock Hills earned a reputation for testing every aspect of a golfer’s game. However, several players handled the challenge well. As a result, the first-round leaderboard featured more red numbers than many expected.
Clark led the field at 6-under par through 16 holes when officials suspended play because of darkness. He still had two holes remaining before completing his opening round. Even so, his performance gave him a four-shot advantage over the nearest competitors.One of Clark’s biggest highlights came on the par-5 fifth hole. He struck a remarkable approach shot that finished only inches from the cup. The shot set up a simple tap-in eagle. Earlier in the round, he nearly recorded an albatross on the par-5 14th. That near-miss led to another easy eagle and helped him separate from the field.
Meanwhile, several former U.S. Open champions remained in contention. Dustin Johnson, Matt Fitzpatrick, Gary Woodland, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy all finished the day under par or held under-par positions when play stopped.
McIlroy posted a 1-under 69 during the morning wave. Strong winds challenged players throughout the early hours. Nevertheless, McIlroy stayed patient and positioned himself within striking distance. At the time he finished, he sat only one shot behind clubhouse leader Sam Stevens.
However, afternoon conditions became more favorable. Softer greens and calmer weather allowed players to attack the course more aggressively. Consequently, scoring improved throughout the day. Clark took full advantage of those conditions and surged ahead.
Sam Stevens completed his round at 2-under par. Amateur Ryder Cowan matched that score with an impressive 68. Cowan’s performance stood out because he became the first amateur in four decades to post such a strong opening round at the U.S. Open.
In addition, Max McGreevy joined Stevens and Cowan at 2-under. Several other notable players also occupied that position when darkness arrived. Fitzpatrick stood at 2-under through 16 holes. Johnson reached 2-under through 15 holes. Woodland also sat at 2-under through 15 holes. Rahm remained at 2-under through 13 holes.
Rahm produced one of the day’s most memorable moments. He drained a lengthy 61-foot putt on the 17th hole. That birdie moved him to 2-under and kept him near the top of the leaderboard.
Johnson also made a serious charge during the afternoon. At one point, he recorded four consecutive birdies and briefly shared the lead. Furthermore, he matched Clark at 4-under during a stretch of outstanding golf. However, Johnson lost momentum late. A costly double bogey dropped him back and widened Clark’s advantage.
Fitzpatrick also remained in contention for much of the day. Yet a late bogey prevented him from keeping pace with Clark’s remarkable round.
DeChambeau experienced a rollercoaster day. He started strongly and moved into contention early. Then several mistakes pushed him back toward even par. Nevertheless, he recovered with a birdie and returned to 2-under before play ended. His resilience kept him firmly in the championship picture.
The amateur storylines extended beyond Cowan. Preston Stout, an Oklahoma State junior and national champion, also reached 2-under during his round. Therefore, two amateurs briefly shared part of the lead during the afternoon.
Not every player enjoyed success. Jason Day withdrew from the tournament because of a back injury. Before withdrawing, he struggled badly and recorded seven bogeys across his first nine holes.
The overall scoring surprised many observers. Historically, Shinnecock Hills produced scoring averages of 77 and 76 during previous U.S. Opens. This year, the average hovered around 73 during the opening round. Therefore, many questioned whether tournament officials would make course adjustments before the second round.
When darkness ended play, Clark sat comfortably atop the leaderboard at 6-under through 16 holes. Stevens, Cowan, McGreevy, Fitzpatrick, Johnson, Woodland, and Rahm followed at 2-under. McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Max Greyserman, Brian Harman, Ben James, Corey Conners, DeChambeau, Ben Kohles, and Angel Hidalgo rounded out the under-par group at 1-under.
As the championship moves forward, Clark holds the clear advantage. However, several major champions and rising stars remain close enough to challenge him. Therefore, the second round promises plenty of drama at one of golf’s most demanding venues.
Author Profile
-
Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
Latest entries
GolfJune 19, 2026Wyndham Clark Turns Shinnecock Into His Personal Playground
EntertainmentJune 19, 2026The Ruler’s Rise: Seven Must-See Opponents for Oba Femi
GolfJune 19, 2026From Cannons to Blind Putts: 31 Ways to Energize Your Golf Event
AAC FootballJune 16, 2026Hartline’s Recruiting Blueprint Starts Taking Shape at USF
About the Author
