Rory McIlroy Hasn't Won The U.S. Open In 15 Years, And Shinnecock Hills Wants Blood

Alright, fam, it's ON! We are officially diving into the third major of the 2026 golf season, and let me tell you, Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York, is already shaping up to be an absolute beast. This isn't just any tournament, it's the U.S. Open, and the USGA brought out the big guns with a massive 156-man field, all battling it out over 72 holes. Round 1 kicked off Thursday, and if you thought the early season was wild, get ready, because the pressure cooker is officially here. We've got legends seeking history and a course known for chewing up even the best.

The Heavy Hitters and the History Books

Seriously, the storylines out of Shinnecock Hills are pure fire. Scottie Scheffler, our world No. 1, is once again the clear favorite, gunning for the career grand slam. That's some serious hardware on the line! Then there's Rory McIlroy. Man, he completed his grand slam just last year in 2025, fresh off winning consecutive Masters titles. But get this: he hasn't snagged a U.S. Open title in 15 years, and this very course had his number eight years ago. You know he's got something to prove. And don't even get me started on Brooks Koepka! He absolutely dominated Shinnecock back in 2018, and you *know* he's back to show he can still own this place. Talk about high stakes! Keep an eye on Jon Rahm too, his play has been tremendously better lately. Guys like Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Ludvig Åberg, Russell Henley, and local hero Cameron Young are all in the mix near the top. It's gonna be a battle!

Don't Miss a Shot: How to Watch the U.S. Open

We know you're not missing a single swing of this major, so here's the lowdown on how to catch all the action. CBS Sports is bringing us wall-to-wall coverage, which is exactly what we need for a tournament of this magnitude.

Round 1, Thursday, June 18 (All times Eastern)

• TV coverage: 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on USA Network.
• Late streaming coverage: 5-8 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
• Featured Groups live stream: 7:30 a.m. on USOpen.com and the U.S. Open mobile app.

Round 2, Friday, June 19 (All times Eastern)

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• Early TV coverage: 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network.
• TV coverage: 1:30-7:30 p.m. on NBC.
• Featured Groups live stream: 7:30 a.m. on USOpen.com and the U.S. Open mobile app.

Round 3, Saturday, June 20 (All times Eastern)

• Early TV coverage: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on USA Network.
• TV coverage: 12-8 p.m. on NBC.
• Featured Groups live stream: TBA on USOpen.com and the U.S. Open mobile app.

This is the U.S. Open, baby, where legends are made and hearts are broken. With Round 1 underway, every shot from here on out means everything. Who's gonna conquer Shinnecock? Can Scheffler finish his grand slam? Will Rory finally break his U.S. Open drought? Or will Koepka prove he's still the king of this beast? Get ready, because it's going to be an absolutely wild weekend. We'll be glued to every single moment. 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.