Fog delays at Shinnecock Hills pushed play back for two hours on Thursday, leaving only 100 of 156 golfers to finish their first rounds before bad light stopped play at 8.25pm. The backlog threatens Saturday-like timing risks with severe winds forecast for Fri
Fog settled over Shinnecock Hills and the US Open’s opening day turned into a grinding test of patience. Play was delayed for a full two hours on Thursday. and when it finally resumed. the damage was already done: only 100 of the 156 golfers managed to complete their first rounds before play was called off at 8.25pm for bad light.
That meant a full third of the field were left with their rounds unfinished. watching the clock and the weather rather than the ball. The uncertainty didn’t stop when the horn sounded for the day, either. The US Golf Association now faces a major headache as severe winds are forecast for Friday. with the prospect of rounds stretching close to six hours for a second day in succession.
Wyndham Clark, the 2023 champion, found himself in the middle of the scramble. He was four clear on six under par with two holes still to play when Thursday ended. Matt Fitzpatrick. who won the 2022 title. was two under through 16. level with Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm as all three still had more golf to complete. Bryson DeChambeau, playing alongside Fitzpatrick, was one shot further behind.
In the clubhouse lead, the numbers came without waiting for everyone to finish. Sam Stevens. US amateur Ryder Cowan and Max McGreavy were all on two under. sharing the top spot at the moment play stopped. Rory McIlroy had to battle through the worst of the conditions. signing for a 69 to sit one under after back-to-back bogeys. Scottie Scheffler. meanwhile. saved par from a bunker on the last hole but is two over heading into the second round.
The schedule now hangs on Friday’s weather. Severe winds after a fog-disrupted start could leave players and officials juggling timing. tees and temperament as they try to push the tournament back into rhythm. For a US Open already defined by razor-thin margins. the first-day delay has added a different kind of pressure—one that doesn’t show up in the scorecard until the final groups get to finish.
US Open Shinnecock Hills fog delay Wyndham Clark Matt Fitzpatrick Dustin Johnson Jon Rahm Bryson DeChambeau Rory McIlroy Scottie Scheffler Sam Stevens Ryder Cowan Max McGreavy US Golf Association