A fog delay slowed the early action at Shinnecock on Thursday morning, but when the veil lifted just after 9 a.m. local time, the wait proved worth it. That's when Korn Ferry Tour pro James Nicholas—born in New York City just a short LIRR ride away—sunk the tournament's opening birdie from just off the third green. Take it away, kid.

Birdies won't be easy to come by this week, but there's something about a New York kid making the first birdie of a New York U.S. Open on the same day as the New York Knicks' championship parade that makes this one a little extra special. Nicholas also struck the very first ball of the 2026 U.S. Open on Thursday, having the honors in the day's first grouping. In the now-immortal words of Alicia Keys, let's hear it for New York!