Four Canadians – Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Nick Taylor, Corey Conners and Ben Silverman arrive at Shinnecock Hills for the U.S. Open with different paths to get here—rookie momentum, home-club qualification, a recent comeback from a wrist injury, and major experience shaped by to
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — When Sudarshan Yellamaraju looks up at Shinnecock Hills, he doesn’t treat it like another stop on the schedule. He calls it a one-of-a-kind course, the kind that forces you to keep earning your chances from the first tee to the last putt.
The Canadian PGA Tour rookie is teeing it up this week at his second major championship in a row, arriving with four Signature Events already earned this season and a solid body of work through 2026. He’s still learning, he said, not trying to pretend he has it all figured out.
“Naturally just with playing more tournaments. playing a lot of tough courses and all that just kind of helps — and like (Shinnecock Hills) is a one-of-a-kind course. You just kind of go out there and I’m just going to play the best golf I can like I always do and see where that gets me at the end of the week. ” Yellamaraju said on Wednesday.
He missed the cut at his major debut last month, the PGA Championship. But the U.S. Open week feels earned: he comes in after finishing tied for eighth at the RBC Canadian Open. winning the Rivermead Cup as the low Canadian for the first time. and posting his third top-10 finish of the season (and seventh top-20). With roughly two-thirds of his rookie campaign completed, Yellamaraju is also the top Canadian on the FedExCup standings.
“I just kind of focus on what I’m doing and there are some times that I kind of reflect and you do realize that I’m out here,” Yellamaraju said. “but I know I still have a job to do and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Yellamaraju isn’t the only Canadian carrying a story into Shinnecock. This week, three others are also in the field: Nick Taylor, Corey Conners and Ben Silverman.
Silverman earned his spot after finishing as the medalist at a qualifier last week at his home club in Florida. The tournament run gave him entry, and it also sets the stage for a long-awaited return: he is playing his first major since 2022.
Conners’ path is more complicated. His U.S. Open in 2025 ended abruptly after he was cruising and looking like a lock for a top-10 finish before injuring his wrist in the third round. He had started his day 3 under through five holes. hitting three approach shots inside of five feet. but he withdrew prior to the final round after receiving treatment on the course. Conners went through an abbreviated warm up before the final round, but couldn’t proceed.
This season has been uneven for Conners compared to years past. He said last week at the RBC Canadian Open that he is. for example. 114th in strokes gained: total this year. after finishing 29th in 2025. He has zero top-10s, and he hasn’t had a top-20 since March. Still, his game is built for the kind of challenge the U.S. Open brings.
“If I can hit it the way I know I can, I think it’s going to be a big asset this week and keep me in good spots and keep it as simple as possible around this golf course. I feel like things are close,” Conners said.
Conners will need that faith in his approach. Over the last number of years, he’s been among the most consistent players tee-to-green. This week, he’ll have to lean on it at Shinnecock Hills, where the course has hosted the U.S. Open four times in the last century with more than 500 golfers having teed it up there. Only three of them have finished under par.
“You’re really going to have to do everything well,” Conners said. “It’s as tricky as I’ve seen any golf course. So. you (have to do) everything well. but particularly be in control of your irons approaching the green and then have some creativity around the green when you get out of position or even if you hit good shots and are in challenging situations.”.
Taylor arrives with momentum, even with the memory of how close the majors can feel when they slip away. He comes into this week after a strong showing at TPC Toronto, where he fired his best round of the week on Sunday: a 6-under 64, tied for the low round of the day by any player.
He was also in the mix at last month’s PGA Championship for about 63 holes. Taylor said he was within shouting distance of the lead as he made the turn in the final round. but lost it after an unfortunate driver swing sequence. He shot a 5-over 40 coming in and dropped down the board into a tie for 26th.
“As time went on, I took away that I wasn’t perfect those first 63 holes and had a chance to win,” Taylor said. “Wheels came off a little bit but taking away confidence that I’m able to compete in that scenario and hopefully learn from that.”
For Taylor, the lesson is personal, and it’s already being carried into Shinnecock. He notched his career-best major finish at last year’s U.S. Open, a tie for 23rd, and said he’s banking on that experience.
“I feel like I’ve been gaining experience, playing better at majors, and it’s a nice thing to have in my back pocket while I’m coming into this week.”
The week’s forecast only sharpens the test. Taylor pointed to gnarly conditions set for Thursday’s opener, saying the wind will be a major factor so much so that green speeds will be adjusted almost two points lower than what was desired by the USGA.
“It’s just going to be a ‘war of attrition.’ You just have to be patient. You have to know that good shots are going to not end up in good sports. It’s going to be difficult. You’ve just got to be as patient as possible, accepting good and bad breaks,” Taylor said. “But that’s definitely the battle with major championships. It’s just tough and you have to be able to handle that.”.
By the time the first groups tee off, it’s clear the four Canadians at this year’s U.S. Open aren’t arriving with one shared script. Yellamaraju is learning on the fly and backing it with a strong Canadian run. Silverman is making his way back to majors after qualifying through his home club. Conners is returning after a wrist injury cut his 2025 U.S. Open short, and Taylor is stepping into Shinnecock with both momentum and the sting of being close.
That mix—rookie momentum, comeback routes, and major scars—lands them together at the same place for the same reason: to see whether their best golf holds up when the course and the conditions won’t give anything for free.
Ben Silverman – 7:08 a.m.* / 1:03 p.m.
Nick Taylor – 8:03 a.m. / 1:58 p.m.*
Sudarshan Yellamaraju – 12:30 p.m. / 6:35 a.m.*
Corey Conners – 1:25 p.m. / 7:30 a.m.*
U.S. Open Shinnecock Hills Canadians Sudarshan Yellamaraju Nick Taylor Corey Conners Ben Silverman PGA Championship RBC Canadian Open FedExCup Rivermead Cup