The opening round of the 126th U.S. Open Golf Championship at the historic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club was brought to an unexpected halt almost as soon as it began on Thursday, June 18. While players and officials had been preparing for strong winds and challenging course conditions, it was thick coastal fog that ended up causing the first major disruption of the tournament. Following a tense two-hour standoff with the marine layer, the USGA officially gave the green light for play to resume at 9:05 a.m. ET. However, the region remains under threat for extreme weather conditions throughout the day.Â
Shinnecock Hills Weather Forecast For U.S. Open 2026Â
The morning fog is merely the first chapter of a chaotic weather forecast threatening Long Island. Weather updates indicate an incredibly challenging day ahead for tournament organizers. The US National Weather Service has also issued a warning for Shinnecock Hills as the region remains under “High Rip Current Risk.”
“The Storm Prediction Center has placed much of the area in a slight risk of severe weather today, with the primary threat being strong to damaging wind gusts,” the National Weather Service said in its latest Hazardous Weather Outlook.
The Current RIP Statement - Life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone. Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
AccuWeather states, “Winds becoming strong; humid, a shower or two in the morning, then a t-storm in spots; powerful gusts will result in exceptionally challenging golf conditions.”
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Precipitation: Meteorologists have flagged a 80% chance of rain and potential thunderstorms moving into the area as the day progresses.
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Wind Conditions: Crucially, wind gusts approaching 36 to 40 mph are expected to batter the exposed, rolling terrain of the South Fork. Interestingly, the morning winds were too weak to push the heavy fog off the course, but they are expected to pick up violently.
Shinnecock Hills Hourly Weather:
Because the USGA had already anticipated these extreme conditions, setup crews had intentionally slowed down green speeds and modified hole locations on Wednesday night to prevent the course from becoming completely unplayable.
When Was U.S. Open Golf Championship Stopped?
Play was officially suspended at 7:05 a.m. ET, around 30 minutes after the first groups teed off. The visibility problems were clear from the very beginning. American golfer James Nicholas, who hit the tournament’s opening tee shot, reportedly asked the starter if it was really time to begin, saying, “I can’t see the fairway.”
Although the wide fairways helped players find their golf balls early on, conditions quickly became too difficult. Several landing areas and the par-3 11th green became almost impossible to see, making it unsafe and impractical for play to continue.
Why Was Play Halved and Where Do the Players Stand?
When officials sounded the air horns to suspend play, only 14 players from the 156-man field had managed to complete one hole. No player had recorded a birdie, leaving eight golfers tied for the lead at even par.
At first, the USGA asked players to remain in position for about 15 minutes, hoping the fog would clear. However, when visibility failed to improve, golfers were instructed to return to the clubhouse and wait for further updates.
The delay also affected several of the tournament’s biggest stars. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is aiming to complete the career Grand Slam, and Rory McIlroy were among those forced to stop their preparations and wait while tournament officials monitored conditions.
