Rory McIlroy has said this week’s Memorial Tournament will be his final event before the US Open at Shinnecock Hills and confirmed he made a scouting visit to the New York venue earlier this week. McIlroy missed the cut when Shinnecock last hosted the US Open in 2018, but he said he left his latest look at the course encouraged by what he saw ahead of this month’s championship.
The world’s top players are once again preparing for one of golf’s toughest major tests, and McIlroy stressed that the United States Golf Association must keep a close eye on the greens. He pointed to past problems at Shinnecock, including the controversy in 2018 when Phil Mickelson was involved in an incident after putting a moving ball on the sun-baked greens. He also referenced the 2004 US Open, when the par-three seventh green was described as unplayable and had to be watered during the final round after players were unable to control their putts.
McIlroy said the fairways at Shinnecock are very generous and more forgiving than they were in 2018, but he noted that the first cut of rough remains thick at five inches. His main concern, however, was the pace of the greens. According to McIlroy, they are currently rolling around 11 to 11.2 on the stimpmeter, which is quick but still below the extreme speeds seen at some recent majors. He suggested that the course does not need to become any faster, arguing that if the USGA keeps the greens at their present speed, it can still firm them up and use the hole locations it wants without creating the kinds of issues seen in previous championships.
McIlroy said maintaining control of the green speeds will be the key to producing a fair and demanding test rather than one that becomes unmanageable. He added that if conditions are kept in check, the US Open at Shinnecock could be a great week for players and fans alike.
The Memorial will also serve as an important form check for McIlroy, who is still seeking his first win at the tournament. He is grouped with two-time major champion Justin Thomas for the opening round and is scheduled to tee off at 15:25 BST on Thursday as he begins the build-up to his next major challenge.
