Favorite Tee Times and Groups to Watch at the 2026 U.S. Open

As if the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills wasn’t enough to get fans excited for the week, the USGA has announced tee times for the first two rounds, and a handful of groups stand out from the rest. 

All times Eastern (Thursday/Friday)

Chase Kyes (a), Matthew Jordan, Alejandro Tosti (6:57 a.m. / 12:52 p.m.)

The third group of the day feels like a gift from the USGA to the Shotgun Start podcast. Tosti AND Mr. Even Par in the same group? Talk about unstoppable forces and immovable objects. 

Padraig Harrington, Miles Russell (a), Cameron Smith (7:19 a.m. / 1:14 p.m.)

Russell, the 17-year-old stud who was profiled by our Joseph LaMagna after he survived Golf’s Longest Day, has a lot to learn from the other two players in his group. He can learn a lot about golf and a professional work ethic from Harrington. And from Smith? Boats. That seems to be his main interest these days.

Brooks Koepka, Cameron Young, Chris Gotterup (7:30 a.m. / 1:25 p.m.)

This might be the coolest, most badass, don’t fuck with me group the USGA could have put together. Inject this group into my veins at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday.

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Mason Howell (a), Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun (8:14 a.m. / 2:09 p.m.)

I love how the USGA groups the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Open, and Open champions. Watching the 18-year-old Howell outdrive Spaun will be fun. 

Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Xander Schauffele (1:47 p.m. / 7:52 a.m.)

Xander has finished in the top 10 in seven of his nine U.S. Open starts. The other two finishes? T-14 and T-12. He’s an annual must-watch at this championship every year. Hideki and JT are bonuses. 

Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood (7:52 a.m. / 1:47 p.m.)

U.S. Ryder Cup fans: beware of PTSD when watching this loaded group of European ass-kickers. 

Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland, Matt Fitzpatrick (1:25 p.m. / 7:30 a.m.) 

Who gets more pissed off at DeChambeau first? I’m leaning Fitzpatrick. 

Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm (2:09 p.m. / 8:14 a.m.) 

I’m intrigued by these three for different reasons. Rose: Can he contend at an iron-heavy course with his new set? Spieth: How close is he to back? Rahm: Can he shut out the LIV noise and get back to playing world-class golf?

Full first and second round tee times.

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