Key Takeaways
- The first round of the 2024 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills was suspended shortly after the start due to dense fog limiting visibility.
- The USGA is issuing updates roughly every 15 minutes, announcing that the next update will arrive in another 15 minutes – a procedural loop that has left players and fans in a holding pattern.
- Players who managed to tee off before the suspension (including amateurs Ethan Fang and Jackson Suber) are tied for the lead at even par after just one or two holes; no one is under par yet.
- Veteran Padraig Harrington expressed frustration, noting he “just wants to go back to bed,” while Rickie Fowler shrugged off the delay, acknowledging the uncertainty of wind and clouds later in the day.
- Shinnecock Hills remains a notoriously tough test: only three players have finished under par in the four U.S. Opens held there since 1986, and scoring averages can balloon when wind and fog combine.
- The tournament features several high‑profile storylines – Scottie Scheffler chasing a career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy pursuing a seventh major, and first‑time major hopes for Tommy Fleetwood or Tyrrell Hatton.
- Despite the weather delay, the event continues to draw attention from New York sports fans, coinciding with the Knicks’ recent NBA championship and a World Cup match in the city.
The morning at Shinnecock Hills began with promise, but a thick blanket of fog rolled in shortly after the first groups teed off, prompting the USGA to suspend play at 12.05 p.m. UK time (≈ 7.05 a.m. ET). Visibility on the fairways dropped to the point where officials could no longer guarantee safe conditions, and a horn blast signaled the halt. Players were ushered off the course and directed to practice areas, where they could work on chipping and putting while waiting for the mist to lift.
In the interim, the USGA adopted a somewhat circular communication strategy: updates are released approximately every 15 minutes, each stating that the next update will arrive in another 15 minutes. This loop has kept everyone informed, if not exactly enlightened, about when action might resume. As of the latest timestamp (08:19 EDT), the announcement read, “Round 1 remains suspended. Next update: 8:00 a.m. ET,” which translates to 1 p.m. UK time – a window of roughly five minutes from the moment of the notice.
Among the few who managed to get a glimpse of the course before the fog closed in were Rickie Fowler and several early starters. Fowler, who was runner‑up at Pinehurst in 2014 and posted a remarkable 62 at Los Angeles Country Club in 2023, gave a resigned shrug‑laden interview: “Kind of just sit and wait. There’s nothing we can do about what we can and can’t see out there… I wasn’t expecting some low‑hanging clouds like this, so sit and wait.” He added that he anticipates wind picking up later in the day, hoping the conditions will eventually allow play to move forward.
Padraig Harrington, the 54‑year‑old three‑time major champion, was less diplomatic, quipping that he “just wants to go back to bed.” Harrington’s comment underscores the physical toll of repeatedly warming up, cooling down, and waiting—especially for a player whose joints now require extra loosening before he can swing comfortably.
At the point of suspension, the leaderboard was remarkably flat. Only a handful of players had completed any holes, and the top of the standings featured an eight‑way tie at even par. Amateur Ethan Fang, who captured the 130th British Amateur at Royal St George’s last June, and Jackson Suber were among those tied, each having played just a single hole. Fellow Americans James Nicholas and Caleb Surratt held the top two spots after parring the first two holes. No player had yet broken par, underscoring how the fog‑affected, short exposure to the course has kept scores clustered around even.
Historically, Shinnecock Hills has proven to be a stern examination. Since 1986, only three players have finished a U.S. Open there under par. The course’s links‑like exposure often amplifies wind, and when fog adds low visibility, scoring can spiral. In 2018, the final 45 players in round three failed to break 70, and in 2004 the final‑round average ballooned to 78.7, with the notorious par‑3 7th requiring watering between groups because conditions bordered on the unplayable.
The delayed start has not diminished the narrative intrigue surrounding the tournament. Scottie Scheffler arrives with a chance to complete the career Grand Slam—a win at Shinnecock would give him all four majors. Rory McIlroy seeks a seventh major, which would set a record for any European player. Meanwhile, Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton, both strong performers at Shinnecock in 2018 (finishing second and sixth respectively), are eyeing their first major breakthrough. The combination of a storied venue, volatile weather, and high‑stakes storylines ensures that, once the fog lifts, the drama will be ample.
Amid the golfing spectacle, the surrounding New York sports scene is buzzing: the Knicks recently clinched their first NBA championship since 1973, and a World Cup match is being hosted in the city. For locals, the Shinnecock U.S. Open adds another layer to a week where nothing seems to come easy—traffic bottlenecks on the sole road in and out of the Hamptons mirror the uncertainty on the course. As the USGA continues its 15‑minute update cycle, players, fans, and commentators alike sit tight, hoping the fog will soon retreat and allow the championship to get underway.