GOLF.com: Michael Kim Delivers Surprising Critique of Shinnecock Greens Before 2026 U.S. Open

An Unusual Pre-Tournament Critique

Ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, PGA Tour winner Michael Kim took to X to share his impressions after Monday's practice round—and his observations were anything but typical.

Shinnecock's greens have long been notorious for their fearsome speed and firmness. At the 2018 U.S. Open, Zach Johnson publicly declared that the USGA had "lost the golf course," and Phil Mickelson infamously struck a moving ball on the 13th green in frustration.

What Kim Actually Said

Kim's 2026 description told a very different story:

- Greens are "spongy" and "decently receptive", with speeds he described as "not crazy fast" - Surfaces are "quite bumpy", with aerification holes still visibly unhealed - Bunkers contain rocks and shells, creating unpredictable lies

Kim suggested the greens crew may be intentionally playing it conservative given the heavy wind forecast for Thursday, but warned that putting would still be "super tricky."

Strokeslab Perspective

Softer, slower greens tend to shift the competitive advantage away from elite putters and toward ball-strikers with strong SG: Approach numbers. Equally important: aerification scars reduce putting surface consistency, which can distort SG: Putting data for the week. When interpreting stats from this event, context around green conditions will matter more than usual.