2026 U.S. Open - day one digest

Wyndham Clark raced to a four shot lead, Ryder Cowan made amateur history at Shinnecock, Fog headlined the weather issues and Rory McIlroy made an 11 stroke improvement over his last outing at this course...

Here's what you need to know from the opening round of the 2026 U.S. Open.

Clark four clear with two to play as opening round suspended due to darkness

Wyndham Clark made light of the windy conditions and fog delay to surge into a four-shot lead during the opening round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills before play was suspended due to darkness.

As the predicted winds failed to materialise in the afternoon, the best scoring came from those later groups and it was Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, who seized his opportunity most impressively.

The 32‑year‑old, who earned his fourth PGA Tour title last month at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, began with back‑to‑back birdies before closing out his front nine with another gain. He bounced back immediately from a dropped shot at the second with birdies at three, four and an eagle at five, racing to six-under-par and four shots clear of his nearest competitors.

“Getting off to a great start was nice. Then I had a little bit of a lull but made some good par saves. It was great birdieing 18. Then a little mishap on one and a bogey on two, but after that I got into a nice rhythm. Everything was clicking.”

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Fog delays play on Thursday

While winds were predicted to be the story of the day it was fog that took centre stage on Thursday, putting a stop to play for two hours before play resumed at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

Play began as scheduled at 06:35am local time (11:35am BST) over the Long Island layout, but just 30 minutes later organisers halted play.

Only 18 players in the 156-man field teed off prior to the delay, with none yet to record a birdie.

With eight competitors tied for the lead at even par, play resumed at 09:05am (14:05pm BST).

McIlroy makes 11 shots improvement at Shinnecock Hills

Rory McIlroy carded an opening round 69 during the first day of the U.S. Open to beat his first round score from the 2018 contest at Shinnecock Hills by an astonishing 11 shots.

Despite a bogey-bogey finish, McIlroy was happy with a quick start, having tried to give himself a solid start and avoid the kind of opening that put him on the back foot eight years ago.

One of the best scores of the morning wave, McIlroy still has to wait to see how far behind he'll be of the first round leaders, but currently sits five behind Wyndham Clark and just outside the top ten.

“It was a day to really just keep yourself in the tournament and not shoot yourself out of it, which is exactly what I did eight years ago here,” he said after his round, which was affected by a long delay due to fog.

“With the conditions today, anything under par or anything around even par is a good score. Pars were going to be good, and if you could pick up a couple of birdies here and there, that is always a bonus.”

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Alex Fitzpatrick gets his first experience of a U.S. Open

Alex Fitzpatrick is making his first appearance in a U.S. Open this week, and was very honest about his debut following a first round 71.

"Yeah super cool," he told the DP World Tour about his first experience in this championship.

"It was so hard out there. I expect it to be hard, but the seventh green is almost unplayable, so I don't know where you hit it on that green and that's part of the U.S. Open so just happy to be off the course and go get some rest".

Ryder Cowan ties Shinnecock Hills amateur record

Wtih a two-under-par 68, amateur Ryder Cowan had one of the best rounds on the course from the morning groups and tied the lowest ever round by an amateur in a U.S. Open at Shinencock Hills.

Cowan, a Senior at Oaklahoma who earned his maiden Major start through Final Qualifying, at one point led on Thursday afternoon after reaching three-under-par.

Eventually ending his day on two-under thanks to a final hole birdie at the ninth (his 18th), Cowan currently sits in a tie for second alongside a group of players that include Major champions Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson and Gary Woodland.

Speaking after his round, Cowan was asked about his tying history.

"I did not know that," he replied. "That is very cool, very cool.

"I think that I've really just been trying this week to focus on each shot, especially today. One at a time, not worry about what's going on in the crowds or everything. I'm not used to all these crowds. We don't ever really play with a lot of crowds.

"I'm just trying to take it one shot at a time. That's a very cool stat, though.

"I hit it good all day, put myself in good positions throughout the day. But overall, I was proud of how I played, how I came back after bogeys."

100 Not Out

And a special mention to Adam Scott, who joins Jack Nicklaus as the only other golfer in history to play in 100 consecutive Major Championships.

The 2013 Masters champion fired an opening round 73 and currently sits tied 72nd, which he will be hoping to improve on to make the weekend.

Day withdraws with back injury

Jason Day appeared to hurt his back on the opening hole and managed 10 holes before he decided to withdraw from the 126th U.S. Open due to injury. A site nobody wants to see, and we're all wishing him a speedy recovery.

And for good measure... some of the best shots of the day!