Rory McIlroy is focused on success at the Memorial Tournament this week, but he already has one eye on the US Open.
The third major of the 2026 season returns later this month, with the US Open taking place at Shinnecock Hills.
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McIlroy will enter the tournament as a one-time major winner this year, having successfully defended his title at The Masters in April.
For now, McIlroy is playing at the Memorial at Muirfield Village, where he was tasked with giving his thoughts on Shinnecock as it prepares to host the US Open.
Rory McIlroy makes Shinnecock fairways and greens observation
Six-time major champion McIlroy said of the iconic course on Long Island, New York: “Shinnecock looks good.
“The fairways are very generous. They’re more generous than they were in 2018. But the first cut of rough is 5 inches long.
“So it’s like the first cut is maybe three paces wide and then it gets into the fescue. So if you miss the fairway even by a yard, you’re going to… but you shouldn’t.
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“The fairways are very, very generous. So if you miss the fairway, I feel like you deserve a bad lie.
“And the greens are… it’s still quite green. We played on Monday. The greens are rolling around 11, 11.2, something like that. And I really don’t think they need to get much faster.
“I think if they can keep them at that green speed, they can get them firm, and they can use the hole locations that they want to use without having some of the struggles that they have had the last couple of US Opens.
“So to me, it’s all about them just maintaining the green speeds really where they are and not getting them too out of hand, and I think it will be a great week.
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“If it’s set up the right way, I think it’s one of the best championship tests in the country. I mean, it’s an amazing golf course.”
Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Rory McIlroy thinks the PGA Tour is ‘heading in the right direction’
Ahead of his first round of the Memorial, McIlroy was also tasked with sharing his thoughts on the ongoing restructuring of the PGA Tour.
Among several significant changes, CEO Brian Rolapp looks to be set on a two-track PGA Tour, potentially as early as the 2028 season.
Giving his take on the current situation, McIlroy said: “And then, yeah, I read what you guys write about what’s going on and it seems like Josh Carpenter’s got the inside track on a lot of this stuff.
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“And so I really only know what I read, for the most part. I obviously maybe have an idea of, like, player sentiment on what’s going on and maybe have talked to some tournament directors or some sponsors.
“But I think it’s all heading in the right direction. Expanding the fields, I think, is something that everyone wanted, bringing cuts back in, giving guys more opportunities.
“I talked to Brian about this a little bit on the golf course. I think the PGA Tour used to be built on the number of opportunities guys had, but maybe those opportunities, the quality… so it was like quantity over quality.
“Where I think this is really going to be quality playing opportunities, expanding the fields, but when I was on the board we went through this process of deciding to cut the number of Tour cards to a hundred, because I feel like if you have your Tour card it should mean something.
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“You should know where you’re playing, you should know what events you’re getting into. And I think that’s what this structure is going to be able to do.”
The Northern Irishman has already confirmed his stance on the potential new schedule, with McIlroy set to “pick and choose” his PGA Tour events, as he has already been doing for the past few years.
That approach has certainly been evident in 2026, with the 30-time PGA Tour winner having made just seven starts.
Read more:
Frustrated Rory McIlroy reveals the one reason why he hasn’t been able to win The Memorial yet
‘Surprised’ Scottie Scheffler comments on Shinnecock Hills after playing there for the first time
The PGA Tour warned they’re heading into a ‘dangerous’ situation with Rory McIlroy
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