Two-Hour Fog Delay Torpedoes U.S. Open Opening Round and The World's Best Face An Overnight Thriller
Alright, golf fans, if you thought Thursday at the U.S. Open was going to be a smooth ride, think again! Shinnecock Hills just threw a curveball with a nasty morning fog delay that pushed everything back by two hours. Seriously, at 7:05 a.m. ET, the fog rolled in, and play couldn't even start until 9:05 a.m. ET! This isn't just a minor blip, folks, it means Round 1 is gonna be a straight-up marathon, stretching into Friday morning. Talk about starting a major with some serious drama!
Shinnecock Hills Is Already Playing Hardball
You know Shinnecock Hills isn't here to play nice, and this fog delay just dialed up the intensity from the jump. This legendary course is already a beast, ready to test every single one of the 156 players in the field. But now, with tee times shoved back, these guys are trying to conquer it with their entire schedule completely tossed. We're talking about an "extremely long first round" here, which means stamina, mental toughness, and absolute laser focus are going to be tested like never before. Can you even imagine trying to finish up Round 1 on Friday morning after a grueling day? That's a whole new level of grind for these pros, and it sets the stage for some wild swings early on.
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Major Groupings Face An Early-Season Gauntlet
Despite the chaos, the USGA still lined up some absolute must-watch pairings, and now they're all kicking off later than planned, adding to the pressure. First up, we've got Brooks Koepka, who was the last man to win a U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, teamed up with fellow heavy-hitters Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup. They're off the 1st tee at 9:30 a.m. ET. That's a group packed with power, ready to attack this course!
Then, representing the European Ryder Cup squad, Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, and Tommy Fleetwood hit the 10th tee at 9:52 a.m. ET. Can Rory finally snag that U.S. Open win he's been chasing for 15 years? This delay definitely adds a layer of drama to his pursuit. And get this, last year's U.S. Open champ, J.J. Spaun, is playing alongside reigning U.S. Amateur champ Mason Howell and the world No. 1, Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler's on a quest for the career grand slam, and he starts his journey at 10:14 a.m. ET off the 1st tee. Talk about high stakes right out of the gate, with a world No. 1 and a defending champ in the mix!
The afternoon wave is stacked too, ready to battle as the sun starts to drop. We've got Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, and Matt Fitzpatrick off the 10th at 3:25 p.m. ET. Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, and Xander Schauffele follow at 3:47 p.m. ET off the 1st. And closing out the featured groups for Round 1, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, and Jon Rahm are on the 10th tee at 4:09 p.m. ET. Every one of these guys is chasing history, and now they've got an extra challenge tossed their way.
So yeah, Thursday's U.S. Open action is already turning into an epic saga thanks to that morning fog. With tee times backed up and play extending into Friday, every single shot takes on extra weight. This isn't just golf, it's a test of wills, a grind from start to finish. Get ready, because this is going to be a true test of endurance and skill, and we're just getting started at Shinnecock Hills. You absolutely do not want to miss how this plays out over the next 24 hours!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.