The U.S. Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club this week for the 126th edition of the championship, marking the sixth time the historic Long Island course has hosted the tournament. As the only club to stage the U.S. Open in three different centuries, Shinnecock Hills is steeped in legacy, but its recent history has also been marked by challenging conditions and criticism over course setup.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler arrives at Shinnecock seeking to complete the career Grand Slam with a U.S. Open victory, a feat achieved by only six players before him. A win would place him alongside Tiger Woods as the only players in the modern era (since 1960) to capture all four majors on their first attempt. Scheffler, who already holds two Masters titles among his major wins, said he relishes the challenge posed by difficult courses and deep fields.

However, past U.S. Opens at Shinnecock have sparked controversy over course difficulty and conditions. In 2004, a strong warm wind made the course brutally difficult, forcing officials to water the par-3 seventh green repeatedly during the final round. That year, no player finished under par, and scores averaged nearly 79. Sixteen years later, in 2018, persistent sun and wind rendered the greens extremely fast and unyielding, and the final groups struggled to break par. Phil Mickelson notably protested by striking a moving ball. Brooks Koepka emerged as champion, becoming the first repeat winner in nearly three decades.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) responded to criticism by reviewing the 2018 setup, identifying improper green hydration as a key issue. This year, the USGA aims to restore the course to its original design by architect William Flynn, who remodeled Shinnecock in 1931. Officials have widened fairways to an average of 48 yards—broader than the 42 yards at the 2018 Open and much wider than other recent majors such as last year’s Oakmont, where fairways averaged 32 yards in width. Green speeds are expected to be slower than previous events, helping to balance scoring on surfaces exposed to wind and located on hills.

Players arriving early have noted these differences, with Rory McIlroy describing green speeds just over 11 on the Stimpmeter, slightly below USGA targets but potentially ideal for firm conditions and challenging pin placements. McIlroy, the most recent career Grand Slam winner who completed his set at the 2025 Masters, called Shinnecock “one of the best championship tests in the country” when set up appropriately.

Among other storylines, Adam Scott is preparing for his 100th consecutive major championship start, a mark surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus’s streak of 146. Scott, who has yet to make the cut in his three appearances at Shinnecock, said maintaining peak fitness and focus is critical to such durability.

The physical and mental demands of the course are well known. Shinnecock’s routing incorporates a series of triangular hole layouts designed to expose players to shifting winds, demanding adjustments in shot-making. Xander Schauffele described the tournament as “the most tired I am” of the four majors, highlighting the rigorous challenge both physically and psychologically.

With Scheffler aiming to join an elite group of career Grand Slam champions and the USGA striving to strike the right balance in course setup, all eyes will be on Shinnecock Hills as the championship begins Thursday. How this historic venue handles the modern iteration of the U.S. Open test will become clear over four days of competition on one of golf’s most storied stages.