US Open Fog Delay
US Open Golf Faces Foggy Delay as Shinnecock Hills Visibility Plummets
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The 126th U.S. Open got off to a foggy, frustrating start at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, on June 18, 2026. Just 30 minutes into the opening round, officials suspended play after dense fog rolled in from the Atlantic and made it impossible to see fairways and greens AP.
Fourteen players had completed just one hole before the air horn sounded at 7:05 a.m. ET. The USGA held them on the course for 15 minutes hoping conditions would improve. When visibility got worse instead of better, all players were sent to the clubhouse Newsday.
Fog Beats the Course Before Anyone Else Could
The first tee shot of the tournament was struck at 6:35 a.m. ET by James Nicholas, a Yale University alumnus from Scarsdale, N.Y. He had concerns before he even swung. "I can't see the fairway," Nicholas told the starter at his tee time, according to AP.
Zero birdies were recorded in the opening 30 minutes. By 8:15 a.m. ET, the USGA confirmed play was still suspended with no restart time set MRT.
USGA Braced for Wind but Got Deadly Calm Instead
The irony of the morning was hard to miss. The USGA had spent Wednesday evening slowing green speeds and adjusting hole locations to prepare for forecasted 40 mph gusts. Those winds never showed up, according to Golf Channel. Without a breeze, the maritime fog simply sat still over the course with nothing to push it away.
Course superintendent Jonathan Jennings, in his 15th year at Shinnecock, noted that wind is typically the "constant factor" at this site. A windless morning was an unusual obstacle the USGA had not specifically planned for Lethbridge Herald.
Last Fog Delay Happened at 2021 Torrey Pines
Fog stoppages are rare at the U.S. Open. The last first-round delay of this kind was in 2021 at Torrey Pines in San Diego, where a "June Gloom" fog suspended play for 90 minutes, according to AP. This year's delay marks the first fog-related suspension in five years on the tour's biggest stage.
Shinnecock Hills has its own history of weather chaos. In 2004, the USGA had to water the 7th green mid-round because gale-force winds made it impossible for balls to stay put. In 2018, controversy over pin placements and ultra-fast greens drew sharp criticism before a final-round 63 by Tommy Fleetwood calmed the storm NH Register.
A Long Day Ahead for Players, Fans, and Officials
With only 14 players finishing even one hole, the tournament now faces a serious logistical backlog. Officials warned that a "marathon Friday" is likely, with first-round finishers potentially backing up into Saturday. The total field is 156 players, including 20 amateurs — the highest amateur count at Shinnecock since 2018 WSOC TV.
The purse for the 2026 U.S. Open is a record $22.5 million, with the winner taking home $4.5 million. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy were both on the practice range during the delay. Players who tee off later in clearer, windier conditions may hold a competitive edge over those who faced the worst of the morning fog Golf Channel.
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