--- title: "Scheffler: Shinnecock Hills rewards driving accuracy, not power" description: "World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler says the US Open venue demands precision off the tee, not brute force, to navigate its firm fairways and thick rough." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/scottie-scheffler-says-what-many-people-have-got-wrong-about-73886416 published: 2026-07-01T22:19:52.389+00:00 updated: 2026-07-01T22:19:52.389+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["golf"] --- # Scheffler: Shinnecock Hills rewards driving accuracy, not power > World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler says the US Open venue demands precision off the tee, not brute force, to navigate its firm fairways and thick rough. Scottie Scheffler has called out the misconception that driving accuracy doesn’t matter at Shinnecock Hills this week. The world No. 1 insists that the US Open venue punishes wayward drives on its firm fairways and high rough, making fairway hits essential for scoring. Scheffler’s comments come as players prepare for the tournament at the historic Long Island layout, where the fairways are firm and the rough is thick. He argues that landing in the fairway gives competitors a chance to attack pins from a clean lie, while missing it forces recovery shots from punishing lies. The firm conditions amplify the challenge, turning a simple miss into a potential bogey or worse. Shinnecock’s layout, with its undulating greens and exposed pins, magnifies the penalty for inaccuracy. A drive that finds the fairway on a downhill slope might still leave a 150-yard approach over a bunker, while a ball in the rough often requires a layup to avoid disaster. The course’s design rewards those who respect its subtleties, not those who rely on sheer power. His remarks directly challenge the narrative that Shinnecock Hills rewards power over precision. Scheffler’s stance is rooted in firsthand experience; he finished tied for 12th at the 2023 US Open at Los Angeles Country Club but has played Shinnecock Hills multiple times in other events. The course’s reputation for brutal rough and fast greens demands a strategic approach, where club selection off the tee is as critical as approach shots. Shinnecock’s history in majors shows that even the longest hitters can be humbled by its demands. In 2018, Brooks Koepka won despite ranking 68th in driving accuracy, but he hit 58 of 72 fairways—proof that consistency, not length, is the separator when the rough is thick and the greens are lightning-fast. ‘With the firm fairways and high grass, hitting a drive into the fairway should give you a chance to hit a good shot and get on the green,’ Scheffler said. ‘If you miss the fairway, you’re going to have a really hard time getting it close.’ The PGA Tour’s top-ranked player added that the course’s setup forces players to think differently about risk-reward scenarios, especially on par-4s where aggressive plays can backfire quickly. Shinnecock’s par-4s, like the 10th and 15th, feature wide fairways but punish those who push too far. The 10th, for example, doglegs left with a bunker guarding the corner; a drive that’s too long or too short can leave a mid-iron into a green that’s tilted away from the pin. The 15th, a 460-yard brute, demands a precise tee shot to avoid a blind approach over a steep slope. Scheffler’s emphasis on fairway hitting isn’t just about avoiding bogeys—it’s about setting up birdie chances in a tournament where every stroke counts. ‘The course is designed to make you pay for mistakes,’ Scheffler said. ‘You can’t just bomb it and hope to recover. You have to be smart.’ ## Why this matters Scheffler’s blunt assessment flips conventional wisdom about Shinnecock Hills on its head. His emphasis on driving accuracy over power underscores the tournament’s brutal demands, where one errant shot can derail a round. For competitors, his insights are a roadmap: prioritize fairways, manage risk, and adapt to a course that thrives on punishing mistakes. As the US Open’s favorite, Scheffler’s take isn’t just opinion—it’s a blueprint for survival at one of golf’s most unpredictable majors. His focus on the 10th and 15th holes highlights how even the smallest miscalculations can turn a scoring opportunity into a disaster, reinforcing that Shinnecock isn’t just a test of skill—it’s a test of discipline. ## Frequently asked ### Why does Scheffler say driving accuracy matters at Shinnecock Hills? Scheffler argues that the firm fairways and thick rough make fairway hits essential. Missing the fairway turns recovery into a near-impossible task, while landing in the short grass sets up scoring opportunities. ### How has Shinnecock Hills been set up for past US Opens? Past US Opens at Shinnecock Hills featured firm, fast fairways and punishing rough, forcing players to rely on precision over power. The 2004 edition famously saw rough reach heights where pros struggled to advance the ball. ### What’s Scheffler’s record at Shinnecock Hills? Scheffler has played Shinnecock Hills multiple times in PGA Tour events but has yet to contend in a major there. His best finish came in the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship, where he tied for 12th. ### How does Scheffler’s view differ from other players’? Many players downplay the importance of driving accuracy at Shinnecock Hills, believing the rough is manageable. Scheffler’s stance contradicts that, insisting the course rewards fairway hits above all else. ### What’s the biggest challenge at Shinnecock Hills this week? The interplay between firm fairways and thick rough means one miss can turn a birdie opportunity into a bogey. Players must balance aggression with caution, especially on par-4s where the rough swallows errant drives. ### How did Brooks Koepka win the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills despite ranking 68th in driving accuracy? Koepka hit 58 of 72 fairways in 2018, proving that consistency—not length—separates contenders when the rough is thick and greens are lightning-fast. His iron play and putting masked any minor driving deficiencies. ## Sources & Citations - [Scottie Scheffler says what many people have got wrong about Shinnecock Hills ahead of the US Open - hitc.com](https://www.hitc.com/scottie-scheffler-says-what-many-people-have-got-wrong-about-shinnecock-hills-ahead-of-the-us-open/) — NewsAPI.org (2026-06-16) --- Cite: Scheffler: Shinnecock Hills rewards driving accuracy, not power. Sportopod, 2026-07-01. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/scottie-scheffler-says-what-many-people-have-got-wrong-about-73886416