Harry Higgs' One Choice on Hole 10 Showed Everyone What Shinnecock Hills Actually Is

Alright, Seattle, listen up! Day one of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills just wrapped, and if you weren't watching, you missed a masterclass in how an absolutely brutal course demands pure genius. Even with a two-hour fog delay and a less-than-perfect forecast making the afternoon wave play a stroke easier than the morning, this course is still chewing up players and spitting them out, proving that sound decision-making and flawless execution are the *only* way to survive. Seriously, this isn't your average Sunday stroll.

The Course That Doesn't Mess Around

Shinnecock Hills has a rep, folks, and it's earned. We're talking one of the best golf courses in all the land, a true championship test where good shots get rewarded big time, and poor shots get punished, hard. It's as difficult as they come, and honestly, you love to see it. Despite that fog delay messing with the schedule, every single player out there had to bring their A-game in strategy. If you wanted to see the drama unfold, the cluster of holes from 9 to 12 was the place to be, offering a front-row seat to the sheer difference between this beast and what you see week in and week out.

Choices, Choices, Everywhere

The real story, though? It’s all about the choices. Take the par-4 10th hole, for example. Players starting on the back nine were immediately met with a fork in the road: do you send one down the hill for a wedge back up, or do you lay back, get a cl

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ear view, and hit from 180 yards? Harry Higgs, the very first player on the course, went for the former, and BAM! That was our first "Welcome to Shinnecock" moment, because he chose wrong. These decisions were made on every single tee. You had Rory McIlroy, opting to lay back more often, and he carded a solid 1-under 69. Then there was Ludvig Åberg, who believed the opposite strategy was his ticket, and guess what? He also shot 1-under 69! Tommy Fleetwood played it down the middle for his 70. These three guys played three different games, yet combined to shoot the lowest rounds in the morning wave. It just screams that there's more than one way to skin this cat, but you better pick your poison wisely.

Risky Business Pays... Or Does It?

Then there's Chris Gotterup. You gotta admire the guts! On the very first hole, he took driver off the tee, an idea few others seemed to think was viable, especially with the wind coming off the left and the hole curving the same way. Gotterup, with his left-to-right shot shape, was looking to make a statement. Did it work? Well, he ended up in the left greenside bunker and couldn't get up-and-down for his birdie. But it absolutely sparked a conversation. It showed that some guys are willing to take the calculated risk, even if it doesn't always pay off immediately. So, as the 2026 U.S. Open continues, the stakes are simple: master the course, or it'll master you. We're on the edge of our seats here at Seattle On Tap, ready to see who steps up and who gets swallowed by Shinnecock Hills. Let's go!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.