McIlroy and Lowry Begin US Open Campaign at Shinnecock Hills as Irish Golf Eyes Major Glory
The 126th US Open got under way at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, on Thursday, with Ireland's two leading major contenders — Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry — beginning their campaigns on a course that has a history of producing some of the most dramatic and demanding conditions in championship golf.
Background
Shinnecock Hills is one of the most storied venues in American golf, a links-style course on the eastern tip of Long Island that has hosted the US Open on five previous occasions. Its reputation for difficulty is well established: the 2004 and 2018 Opens at Shinnecock were both marked by controversy over course conditions that were deemed by many players to be unfairly punishing, with greens so fast and firm that even the best players in the world struggled to keep the ball on the putting surface. The USGA, which organises the US Open, has taken steps to avoid a repeat of those controversies, with officials planning to "syringe" the greens — applying a light mist of water — between morning and afternoon waves to maintain playability. The target green speed is approximately 10.5 on the Stimpmeter, which would be the slowest for a US Open since 1995.
Rory McIlroy arrives at Shinnecock Hills as one of the most decorated players in the field. His victory at the 2025 Masters completed his career Grand Slam — joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen as the only players to have won all four major championships. That achievement, which came after years of near-misses at Augusta, transformed McIlroy's legacy and gave him a freedom and confidence that has been evident in his play throughout 2026. He enters the US Open seeking a seventh major title, which would move him level with Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead on the all-time list.
Shane Lowry, the 2019 Open Championship winner, has a record at Shinnecock Hills that includes a second-place finish at the 2016 US Open — a performance that demonstrated his ability to handle the specific demands of the course. His short game, which is among the best on the European Tour, is particularly well suited to the precise, creative shot-making that Shinnecock's undulating greens require.
Key Developments
McIlroy has been paired with Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Åberg for the first two rounds, a grouping that reflects his status as one of the tournament favourites. He has spoken extensively in the build-up about the need for patience and conservatism at Shinnecock, where the temptation to attack pins can be punished severely. "The fairways are generous, but the rough is five inches deep and it's brutal," he said. "The strategy has to be to aim for the centre of the greens and take your medicine when the course fights back. You can't force things here."
McIlroy has described Shinnecock Hills as "the best championship test in the country," a view that reflects his appreciation for courses that reward strategic thinking and ball-striking precision over raw power. His preparation has included several practice rounds at the course, and he has been working specifically on his iron play and his ability to control trajectory in the wind — a key skill at a venue where gusts of 30 to 40 miles per hour are forecast for the opening rounds.
Lowry, grouped with Joaquin Niemann and Alex Smalley, has been identified by several analysts as a strong each-way contender. His 2016 performance at Shinnecock — where he led after 54 holes before finishing second to Dustin Johnson — demonstrated that he has the game and the temperament to compete at the highest level on this course. His short-game prowess, which has been a consistent strength throughout his career, is particularly valuable at Shinnecock, where the ability to get up and down from difficult positions around the greens can be the difference between a good score and a disaster.
Why It Matters
The US Open is the most demanding of the four major championships, and Irish success at Shinnecock Hills would represent a significant moment for the game in Ireland. McIlroy's Grand Slam completion at Augusta last year was a watershed moment, but the US Open has a particular resonance for Irish golf — it was the scene of some of McIlroy's most memorable performances, including his record-breaking 2011 victory at Congressional, and it is the major that most consistently rewards the qualities that Irish players tend to excel at: patience, course management, and the ability to grind out scores in difficult conditions.
The broader context of Irish golf's health is also relevant. The DP World Tour has seen a decline in the number of Irish players competing at the highest level in recent years, a trend that Pádraig Harrington has publicly warned about. McIlroy and Lowry are the standard-bearers for a generation of Irish golfers, and their performances at the majors have a direct impact on the sport's profile and participation levels at home. A strong showing at Shinnecock Hills — particularly if either player is in contention on the weekend — would generate significant interest in Ireland and could inspire the next generation of young golfers.
Local Impact
The US Open is being broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf and RTÉ in Ireland, with coverage beginning in the early hours of the morning to accommodate the time difference. Golf clubs across Ireland are expected to see increased footfall over the weekend as members gather to watch the coverage, and the Irish Golf Union has reported a significant increase in junior membership applications in the weeks since McIlroy's Masters victory. In Holywood, County Down — McIlroy's home town — the local golf club has organised a viewing event for the opening rounds, with the community's pride in their most famous son very much in evidence.
What's Next
The first round of the US Open continues through Thursday, with the second round on Friday. The cut will be made after 36 holes, with the leading 60 players and ties advancing to the weekend. The third round takes place on Saturday and the final round on Sunday, 21 June. McIlroy and Lowry's first-round scores will be available from Thursday evening Irish time. The leaderboard will be closely watched in Ireland, with RTÉ Sport providing regular updates throughout the day.
