Why Shinnecock may not offer the US Open test it has in the past

The US Open is returning to Shinnecock Hills in New York, but tournament organisers say they have learned lessons from the controversy surrounding the past two editions held at the Long Island course. Previous visits were marred by brutal and ultimately substandard course setups, including a notable incident in 2004 when the USGA took the unusual step of watering the seventh green mid-round. Writing on June 15, 2026, BBC Golf correspondent Iain Carter reports that organisers are promising a fairer test this time around.