Rory McIlroy ‘had no clue’ at Shinnecock before light bulb moment to complete revamp

Had it not been for the misery at Shinnecock Hills, Rory McIlroy might not be returning to the storied links-style course on Long Island.

The world No.2 missed the cut on his only previous competitive outing at the 134-year-old property in the upscale Town of Southampton in New York State.

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The world’s best golfers are heading back to one of the oldest courses in the United States for the third major of 2026, as the U.S. Open returns eight years after it was last hosted at the venue.

McIlroy returns a double Masters champion and as the latest member of the exclusive Grand Slam club – a feat world No.1 Scottie Scheffler is looking to emulate.

Prior to last year, McIlroy had six consecutive top 10 finishes at the U.S. Open, including back-to-back runners-up finishes in 2023 and 2024.

On both occasions he could have claimed the title, most painfully handing Bryson DeChambeau his second US Open in 2024 with a string of missed putts down the stretch.

Having won the title at Bethesda in 2011, McIlroy has had a love-hate relationship with the event, and it is perhaps best illustrated by what happened at Shinnecock in 2018, and the effect it had on him.

The Northern Irishman has missed the cut on five occasions at the tournament, and the last of those was eight years ago.

A disastrous opening round of 80 left him refusing to speak to the media and playing catch up.

A level par round of 70 was among the best of day two, he ended up missing the weekend by two shots and complaining about his major struggles.

“In 2018 at Shinnecock it was a really hard one, because I love that golf course and to perform the way I did there, it really hurt me,” he said before the 2020 U.S. Open at Oakkmont.

“After that I would go back and I would play Hartford the next week and I would feel really comfortable on a PGA Tour setup – I think it was that week it clicked.

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Getty Images - Getty

“I was ‘like why am I so comfortable here in Hartford but last week I had no clue what to do?’

“So that’s when I made the decision, at the back of 2018, that I wanted to build my game around the toughest tests that we have in the game.”

McIlroy was far from the only player to have it tough at Shinnecock in 2018 where Brooks Koepka was the eventual champion with a one-over par four round total of 281 to claim the $2.16million first prize.

Predictions are for another week of high scoring, although 2018 is the only time in the last 12 years that the winning score has been over par, and there were plenty of complaints.

Two-time major champion Zach Johnson, who ended in a tie for 12th at eight-over-par, took no prisoners with his verdict on the set up.

“No, we are not on the edge,” he said in response to Sky Sports’ Sarah Stirk after his final round 72.

“I thought we could be on the edge but we have surpassed it – it’s pretty much gone.

“Specifically the latter part of the day for us, it’s pretty much shot, which is unfortunate because in my opinion it’s some of the best links land and certainly one of the best venues in this country – it’s as good as it gets.

“Shinnecock Hills is beautiful and unfortunately they have lost the golf course.”

Scheffler’s out to join McIlroy in Grand Slam club

Something may have clicked for McIlroy that week in terms of targeting the tougher courses, but having arrived at Shinneock that week on a four-year major drought, it extended to a full decade.

Until the 37-year-old won an agonisingly maiden Masters at August in 2025, and backed it up with a second Green Jacket in 2026.

McIlroy’s feat have entered him into the pantheon of greats, with Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan , Gene Sarazon and Gary Player the only other players to win all four majors.

Scheffler can join them this week if he win’s his national championship for the first time.

Last year, the 29-year-old added the PGA Championship and The Open to his CV, a win at Shinneock would give him all four in just a four year span.

The world’s top two golfers have been kept apart with Scheffler playing alongside defending champion JJ Spaun and amateur Mason Howell.

McIlroy is paired with Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Ludvig Aberg.

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