The Next Major: US Open at Pinehurst No. 2
Pinehurst No. 2 demands an elite short game, and this year, it'll separate the pretenders from the contenders faster than usual.
Marcus Santana · Founder & Lead Tester, Homie Golf · July 29, 2026
Original reporting & analysis · Homie Golf Tour desk
The US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 is going to be a brutal test of short game and mental fortitude. Expect a scoring average above par and only the best iron and wedge players to contend.
The setup
Pinehurst No. 2 is a beast, plain and simple. The fairways are wide, which might lull some into a false sense of security, but the trouble starts immediately with the second shot. The renowned 'turtleback' greens repel anything but a perfectly struck approach. Miss by inches, and you're in collection areas that are essentially deep, sandy bowls. There’s no rough to speak of around the greens, just tightly mown Bermuda that runs off into these unforgiving sandy traps. This means chipping and putting from awkward lies will be the norm, not the exception. The par-3s are long and challenging, requiring precise long irons. This layout isn't about bombing it; it's about surgical accuracy into and around the greens.
What happened
This year, with the USGA undoubtedly seeking to push scores higher, I anticipate the setup will be even more severe. They'll likely dry out those greens and collars, increasing the slipperiness of the run-offs. The firm and fast conditions will exaggerate the 'turtleback' effect, making it even harder to hold greens. Short-siding yourself will be a death sentence, as getting up-and-down from those sandy collection areas to firm greens will feel like hitting off concrete to a trampoline. We'll see players, even the best in the world, look utterly flummoxed around the greens. Bogey will be a good score on many holes, and double bogeys will be lurking everywhere. Mental resilience will be tested just as much as physical skill.
What it means
For us at home, this means a major where the scrambling stats will tell the story. Pay attention to players who excel in strokes gained around the green and have a history of performing well on courses that demand creativity and touch with wedges and putter. Avoid anyone who struggles with distance control on their irons or has a tendency to hit 'flyer' lies. This isn’t a bomber’s paradise; it’s a strategist’s and short-game wizard’s dream. The winner here won't just hit good shots; they'll escape bad situations better than anyone else. Look for the steely-nerved grinder who embraces the grind, not the guy who folds after a few bad breaks. That's your champion.
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