A shift in mindset appeared to be exactly what Sam Stevens needed heading into the U.S. Open. After completing the first round Thursday, he openly acknowledged the change.
Stevens arrived at Shinnecock Hills after missing the cut at the Memorial Tournament and failing to break 42nd place in his previous three events. That streak prompted a major realization.
Stevens revealed his mindset shift, stating, “I’ve had a really crappy attitude, which makes golf a lot harder,” and explained, “So I got a week at home last week and just kind of focusing on trying to stay positive and kind of enjoy playing a little more.”
Reflecting on his performance, Stevens noted, “I’ve played well this year. I just haven’t had maybe the best last month or so. So I’m not super surprised, but I’m grateful to shoot a couple under.”
He concluded the opening round with a one‑stroke clubhouse lead, carding a two‑under‑par 70 despite a disrupted afternoon on Long Island. A two‑hour fog delay halted the start of play, but Stevens remained dominant.
The Fort Worth, Texas native has yet to capture a PGA Tour victory, yet he has enjoyed a remarkable start to 2026, making the cut in all but one of his 13 events. Highlights include a fifth‑place finish at the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March and a sixth‑place showing at the American Express in January.
Stevens attributed part of his turnaround to shedding self‑imposed pressure and gaining “a little perspective” after a week away from the game, allowing him to reset his approach.
He also noted, “Just maybe having a little too high expectations,” he said. “Then the moment that those expectations aren’t met, being a little more upset than I need to be. No broken clubs or anything yet. So that’s good.”
Looking ahead, Stevens added, “It’s kind of one of those things. It’s a long season. I played a lot in the first half of the season. It’s easy to get worn down a little bit, and I just haven’t been as on top of keeping a good attitude as I should have been.”
His round featured six birdies—on holes 1, 3, 5, 9, 11 and 17— offset by two bogeys and a double bogey at the 10th.
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