U.S. Open Course Accused Of Having 'Unfair' Playing Conditions

The U.S. Open is meant to be a difficult tournament. But where's the line between difficult and just plain unfair?

We appear to be straddling it on Thursday.

The first round of the 2026 U.S. Open from Shinnecock is underway on Thursday morning. It's a cloudy, rainy day in New York. Playing conditions, unsurprisingly, are difficult. However, one shot in particular has fans accusing the course's playing conditions of being flat-out "unfair."

Harry Higgs, 34, hit what looked like a brilliant approach shot on the par four 10th hole. He hit his approach shot pin high. However, it quickly rolled way off of the green.

"Didn't take long for our first 'Welcome to Shinnecock' moment," the U.S. Open boasted on Thursday morning.

Fans accuse course of being 'unfair' conditions

While everyone can appreciate a tough U.S. Open course, this might be too much, according to some fans.

"If the greens are this fast when they've got foggy weather, imagine what its going to be like when the greens are dry!" one fan wrote.

"Just unfair," one fan added.

"All that course needs, are swinging logs over the cups, then it'll have all the legitimacy of a genuine Putt-Putt," another fan joked.

"Thank you for reminding me to not watch this (expletive) this weekend. Thats literally (expletive). Do you really think thats good for Golf?" another fan added.

"Ridiculous. Not a test of skill. Pure luck that produces unlikely winners," one fan added.

Others, meanwhile, can appreciate it.

"This is a major. They just can't shoot at pins like they would at a regular pga Joe Schmo invitational. The same thing happened at pinehurst. Majors are supposed to separate the great from the good. Btw- these guys get paid to play. No whining allowed," one fan added.

Where do you stand?

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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 10:13 AM.