USA 250: Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia. He eventually became one of the greatest amateur golfers of all time. By the age of 14, he already showed impressive potential, reaching the third round of the U.S. Amateur. Over his career, he won 13 major tournaments—all as an amateur—a record that remains unbeaten. Notably, in 1930, Jones achieved something remarkable.
A Midway Point in 2026
It’s hard to believe we’re already past the halfway mark of 2026. The U.S. Open is approaching, set to take place at Shinnecock Hills. Feels like just yesterday we were watching Rory McIlroy win another green jacket, and here we are, ready for his third major of the year.
Another major championship means new stories to anticipate before play kicks off on Long Island Thursday morning.
Scotty Scheffler’s Special Day
June 21st, Sunday, is quite a day for the world’s top golfer, Scotty Scheffler.
This Father’s Day coincides with Scheffler’s 30th birthday—definitely a memorable occasion if he were to win his first U.S. Open, completing what is known as a career Grand Slam.
If he does win at Shinnecock, he would be the seventh player to achieve this milestone and the fourth to do it on his first try.
Interestingly, while he’s still favored to win, Scheffler enters the week somewhat under the radar compared to what many expected at the start of the year.
He hasn’t clinched a win since January, although he’s finished in T-4 or better during six of his past 11 outings. Overall, he seems more approachable than during his previous dominant performances. Still, he leads in total strokes gained and strokes gained from tee to green.
The Course Takes Center Stage
When the U.S. Open happened at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, the golf course truly stole the show for four straight days.
Brooks Koepka won the tournament by a stroke. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson controversially hit a moving ball on the green, and Zach Johnson famously commented that “they lost the golf course,” in reference to the tough conditions.
Such dramatic moments are what many golf fans look forward to during the U.S. Open. The best players are put to the test on a notoriously tough course admired worldwide but not played every year.
To create the chaos desired, the USGA needs to properly set up the course and, of course, let the weather play its part. Achieving par could be a simple—yet challenging—goal for players.
Rory McIlroy’s Major Focus
After winning the Masters in 2025 and completing his career Grand Slam, Rory McIlroy has decided to concentrate solely on major championships. It’s a logical choice for the 37-year-old, who has reached the pinnacle of the sport.
This strategy seems to be paying off for him, seeing he successfully defended his title at Augusta National in April. His T-7 at the previous month’s PGA Championship was competitive, too.
Shinnecock Hills is quite a large course where distance gives players an edge. This should allow McIlroy to leverage his driving power. If his putter behaves well this week, he has a strong chance of taking the title.
Adam Scott Approaches 100
Jack Nicklaus holds the record for playing in 100 consecutive major tournaments and has an incredible total of 146 major championship participations—something likely no one will match. On Thursday, however, Adam Scott could join an elite club.
If he gets a ball in play during the opening round, Scott will reach 100 consecutive major appearances. His streak began with the 2001 British Open, including his only major victory at the 2013 Masters.
European Dominance
Interestingly, it’s been since 2009 we saw a non-American win both of the year’s first two majors. Angel Cabrera of Argentina won the Masters that year, and Ye Yang from South Korea defeated Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship.
McIlroy leads a strong European contingent aiming for a third consecutive title, but watch for Spain’s Jon Rahm, England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg to play significant roles as well.
