Editor’s note: Follow to updates and highlights from Round 1 of the US Open.
The 2026 US Open will be a brutal test for the world’s best golfers. Strong winds, a two-hour fog delay and the challenges already presented by Shinnecock Hills Golf Club produced a Round 1 leaderboard with a select few below par, just like the last US Open in Southampton, New York.
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The greens are treacherous and conditions change from hole to hole, with significant wind expected to affect all Thursday tee times and Friday’s second round. There are more players than usual who are struggling because of that and the proposed cut line will increase over all the mistakes.
Scottie Scheffler, defending US Open champion JJ Spaun and Si Woo Kim are among the top golfers off to a rough start, though there is plenty of time to get back into contention. Only the top 60 golfers (and ties) after 36 holes of championship play advanced to the final two rounds this weekend.
Here’s a live cut line tracker for the 2026 US Open, along with the current leaderboard and updated predictions of where the cut line is now and where the cut line is likely to fall at the end of play on Friday:
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
The video board shows the message play has been suspended due to limited visibility on the course during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY. The first teams go out at 6:35 am ET again the game was then suspended due to heavy fog.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
The video board shows the message play has been suspended due to limited visibility on the course during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY. The first teams go out at 6:35 am ET again the game was then suspended due to heavy fog.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Foggy visibility limits visibility near the clubhouse during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays a shot from the driving range at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Rules official Steve Rintoul blows the horn to signal a suspension of play due to poor visibility during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
The Marshals watch the fog during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Fog limits visibility on the course during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY
(Photos by Warren Little, Getty)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
The team of James Nicholas of the United States, Taylor Montgomery of the United States, and Caleb Surratt of the United States are out in the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY.
(Andrew Redington, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Caleb Surratt of the United States plays a shot from under the second green during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY.
(Cliff Hawkins, Getty Images)
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Heavy fog delays action in the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills
Peter Uihlein of the United States and his caddy ride during a suspension of play due to poor visibility during the first round of the 126th US OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 18, 2026 in Southampton, NY.
(Kate McShane, Getty Images)
2026 US OPEN: Clothes for Jason Day, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Young and others
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The cut line for the US Open 2026 is now
As of 2 pm ET Thursday at the 2026 US Open, the proposed cut line is +5 based on the top 60 golfers’ scores (plus ties) on the current leaderboard. All golfers with a score of +5 or better can make it to the weekend at Shinnecock Hills. However, only 78 of the 156 golfers in the field have made the cut.
US Open cut line rules
The top 60 golfers (and ties) make the cut for 36 holes at the 2026 US Open. The cut at last year’s US Open at Oakmont Country Club was +7. The line cut during the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills reached +8.
The live cut line for the US Open
The forecasting model used by Datagolf.com currently projects +5 to be the most likely cut line for the 2026 US Open (35% chance). There is currently a 26.2% chance of it falling to +4, and a 21% chance of it rising to +6 by the end of Friday’s second round, according to the website.
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US Open golfers on the cut bubble
Mason Howell (a): +7 (11)
Today’s live US Open leaderboard
* — Started the round with the 10th hole
T2. Rory McIlroy: -1 (13)*
T2. Ludwig Åberg: -1 (13)*
T5. Adrien Dumont de Chassart: E (15)*
T5. Kristoffer Reitan: E (14)*
T5. Keegan Bradley: E (14)
T5. Rickie Fowler: E (14)
T5. Max Greyserman: E (12)*
T5. Brian Harman: E (12)*
T5. Alex Fitzpatrick: E (12)*
This article first appeared in USA TODAY: US Open cut line tracker 2026: Live updates, set to be decided Friday
