ESPN Golf: 2026 U.S. Open Round 1 & 2 Pairings Set at Shinnecock Hills — Marquee Groups to Watch

126th U.S. Open Gets Underway at Shinnecock Hills

The 2026 U.S. Open tees off Thursday at Shinnecock Hills Country Club in New York, with the full Round 1 and Round 2 pairings now confirmed. The draw has produced several compelling groups worth tracking from a Strokes Gained perspective.

Marquee Groups to Watch

Scheffler Paired with an Amateur

World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler tees off at 8:14 a.m. ET from Tee No. 1 alongside amateur Mason Howell and J.J. Spaun. His Round 2 slot flips to 2:09 p.m. from Tee No. 10. Tracking his SG contributions across all four categories against a stern Shinnecock setup will be the story of the week.

McIlroy, Åberg, and Fleetwood — A European Powerhouse Group

Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, and Tommy Fleetwood are grouped together at 7:52 a.m. from Tee No. 10. All three rank among the world's best, with Åberg's elite SG: APP numbers making him particularly intriguing on a course that demands precise iron play into firm, fast greens.

Thomas, Matsuyama, and Schauffele

Three major champions — Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, and Xander Schauffele — share the 1:47 p.m. afternoon wave from Tee No. 1. Matsuyama is Japan's biggest hope and a perennial contender in U.S. Opens requiring precision and patience.

DeChambeau, Hovland, Fitzpatrick

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau goes off at 1:25 p.m. from Tee No. 10 alongside Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick, both previous major winners. This group's combined SG: Total firepower makes them a round-by-round group to monitor.

Japanese Contenders

Beyond Matsuyama, Ryo Hisatsune (1:25 p.m., Tee No. 1), Ryuichi Oiwa, Kaito Onishi, and Taihei Sato all feature in the draw — each facing a litmus test against elite international competition.

Strokeslab's Take

Shinnecock Hills is historically a course where SG: APP and SG: Putting separate the field. Wind exposure will challenge SG: OTT discipline, and the firm, contoured greens will punish anything short of precise iron play. The Scheffler vs. McIlroy SG battle could define the leaderboard narrative all week.