US Open Preview 2026

The US Open is returning to Shinnecock Hills for 2026, as the third men’s major of the year is around the corner.

Shinnecock is hosting the prestigious USGA event for the sixth time, the last being as recently as 2018, when Brooks Koepka was victorious.

The US Open is one of the longest-running tournaments in the world of golf, dating back to 1895, and like the PGA, it has been moved around the country throughout its now 131-year history.

The previous opens in Southampton, New York, were in 1896, 1986, 1995, 2004 and the aforementioned 2018. The Hills is a challenging, links-style layout and is a major part of the history of this event.

Shinnecock is characterised by a sandy and hilly terrain which often plays firm and fast during the Open. Wind also tends to be a strong contributing factor to play with direction changing constantly. This has typically resulted in winning scores close to, or even over par but the conditions depend on that week’s forecast.

US Open Golf 2025: The Details

Dates: June 11-14, 2026
Course: Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, New York
Par: 70
Length: 7,440 yards
Prize purse: TBD
Defending champion: J.J. Spaun (-1)

US Open: Useful links

Everything you need to know about the 2026 US Open

Check out comprehensive coverage in our US Open Golf 2026 preview – from frequently asked questions, to the competition’s unique heritage, and how the course is shaping up – by reading and clicking on some of the links below.

Frequently Asked Questions about the US Open

When is the US Open?

The 2026 edition of the US Open will take place from June 18-21, and will be played at Shinnecock Hills.

Who won the US Open in 2025?

American J.J. Spaun was the unlikely winner of the US Open last year at Oakmont. He outduelled the likes of Sam Burns, Cam Young, Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland and Tyrrell Hatton during a weather-affected final round to take the title as the sole player under par through 72 holes. Spaun drained a 64-foot birdie putt on the 18^th to seal a remarkable victory.

He began the day one back of Burns, and tied with Adam Scott, but the other contenders fell away on the back nine to open the door for Spaun to win his maiden major championship. That came mere months after Spaun lost to McIlroy in a Monday playoff at the Players in heartbreaking fashion. The US Open earned Spaun a spot on the roster for the 2025 USA Ryder Cup team.

You can test your knowledge by taking our quiz. Can you name all the winners of the tournament? Try it out here.

What is the history around the US Open?

The US Open is the second-oldest continuously running golf tournament in the world, dating back to 1895. Only the Open Championship outdates the US Open.

The tournament has always been a stroke-play competition, with the first three events played over 36 holes on a single day.

Since 1898, the tournament has been played over 72 holes, with the first winning score being 328 by Fred Herd. Compare that to the tournament aggregate low of 268, which came more than 110 years later.

Some of the best American venues, including Pebble Beach, Oakmont, Torrey Pines, Winged Foot and Bethpage Black to name a few, have played host to this wonderful championship.

Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus have all won the US Open on four occasions, with Hale Irwin and Tiger Woods being three-time winners.

In 1896, in only the second ever US Open, Scot James Foulis won the tournament, when it was played over just 36 holes. In 1986, Raymond Floyd triumphed on a completely revamped layout, shooting a final round 66.

In 1995, Corey Pavin won his one and only major, before Retief Goosen claimed victory in 2004 for his second US Open.

In 2018, Brooks Koepka became just the third player since World War Two to defend his US Open title. The American had won the prior year at Erin Hills, with his two US Opens going alongside his three PGA Championship titles.

Shinnecock Hills on Long Island features the oldest golf clubhouse in the United States, which was complete in 1892. It was also one of the five charter clubs that initially formed the USGA in 1894. The esteemed club is also known as the first to admit women as members and, in their first hosting in 1896, the tournament featured the first African American professional golfer, John Shippen.

Despite being the United States Open, and starting in 1895, an American did not win its national open until 1911 in the 17^th edition. The initial Opens were dominated largely by Scotsman Willie Anderson, who is the only golfer to win three straight which occurred from 1903-1905.

Check out the detailed history of the tournament here.

US Open Golf 2026: How do golfers qualify?

Winners of the US Open in the last 10 years
Finishers in the top 10 at the previous year’s US Open
Winners of the Masters, PGA Championship and Open Championship in the last five years
Winners of the Players Championship in the last three years
Winners of multiple PGA Tour events in the past year
Winner of the most recent BMW PGA Championship
Winner of the most recent US Senior Open
Winners of the most recent editions of the following amateur events:
US Amateur (and runner-up)
US Junior Amateur
US Mid-Amateur
Amateur Championship
Latin American Amateur Championship
Mark H. McCormack Medal
NCAA Division I Men’s Individual Golf Championship
Players who qualified for the previous year’s Tour Championship
The top five players on the FedEx Cup Points List (not already exempt)
The top two players from the previous year’s DP World Tour Race to Dubai Standings (not already exempt)
The top player from this year’s DP World Tour Race to Dubai Standings (not already exempt) by May 19
The leader of the Korn Ferry Points List from the previous year
The top 60 players in the Official World Golf Rankings on May 20
The top 60 players in the Official World Golf Rankings on the Monday of the US Open
Special exemption
Being the top LIV Golfer in the league’s standings by May 19, not otherwise exempt.
Final Qualifying

For a more in-depth look at how players can qualify for the tournament, take a look at our piece here.

You can see the full field for the 2026 US Open here.

What are the tee times for the 2026 US Open?

The tee times for the 2026 edition of the tournament will be announced in the run-up to the event.

You can check out our individual pieces for each day’s tee times here:

Where will the US Open visit next?

The USGA are prompt at looking ahead to future editions of the event, by revealing the venues for the next two decades for the most part. We already know that the 2051 US Open will be at Oakland Hills. Like the Open Championship, the USGA adopts a rota of sorts, whereby the same cycle of venues rotate every decade or so.

Shinnecock Hills is next due to play host in 2038. Next year, the US Open will head west to Pebble Beach, an historic site in itself, before going to Winged Foot in 2028, followed by Pinehurst no. 2 the year after.

How much money will the winner take home?

The 2026 prize winnings are yet to be disclosed, but J.J. Spaun took home $4,300,000 last year. All of the top three earned north of $1 million, and even players who missed the cut got $10,000.

Who do you think will win the US Open golf 2026 preview? Who do you think will take the title? Let us know with a post on X, formerly Twitter!