Rory McIlroy posted a one-under 69 in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on Thursday, navigating challenging conditions to position himself near the top of the leaderboard. The Masters champion, bidding for a second Major title this season, fought through gusts of wind reaching up to 30 mph and a two-hour fog delay that suspended play early in the day. Despite a late-round setback with bogeys on his final two holes, McIlroy finished just one shot behind surprise clubhouse leader Sam Stevens, who sits atop the leaderboard after the first round.

Shinnecock Hills, a course with a reputation for difficulty and unpredictability, delivered a stern test for the field. Known for its links-style layout and demanding conditions, the venue has seen only three players finish under par in five previous US Opens. The United States Golf Association (USGA) faced unusual circumstances in managing the course, implementing watering and misting of greens to slow down the notoriously quick surfaces and ensure a fair test amid drying winds.

McIlroy’s round included a standout eagle at the par-five fifth hole, where a 396-yard drive set up a two-putt finish from 11 feet. Earlier in the round, he made birdies at the second and third holes but lost ground with minor mistakes on the 13th and 16th holes, both caught in the rough. Despite late mishaps, McIlroy’s ability to hit 10 of 14 fairways in blustery conditions was a key factor in posting a solid score. The world No. 2 acknowledged the difficulty of the course and the importance of minimizing errors, noting his game has undergone adjustments in recent years to enhance his performance in Major championships, particularly in areas like wedge play, ball flight control, and putting.

Playing partners Ludvig Åberg and Tommy Fleetwood also posted competitive rounds, each breaking par with respective scores of 69 and 70. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, making his first Major appearance in six years, struggled to a 76 after an encouraging start. Tyrrell Hatton, fresh off a win on the LIV tour, carded a 74 after a double bogey on his closing hole.

The round was disrupted by a dense fog that forced officials to halt play shortly after it began, marking the first fog delay at a US Open since 2021. Visibility concerns delayed the field, which is expected to complete the first round on Friday. McIlroy briefly held the outright lead after a mid-round surge but was overtaken as the wind intensified and the leaderboard tightened.

Other notable players, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, faced early difficulties. Scheffler bogeyed three times on the front nine and lagged six strokes behind McIlroy’s pace after the opening round. Several top-ranked golfers, such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, and Justin Thomas, are scheduled to tee off Friday amid forecasts of worsening weather, with rain and thunderstorms expected.

With Shinnecock Hills’ history of favoring tough scoring and its capacity to challenge even the best players, the tournament remains wide open. The USGA’s approach, including keeping the greens slower than usual, seeks to maintain a balance between difficulty and fairness as the championship continues.