Australia's golf stars are adopting a "pick your battles" mindset as they brace for the most brutal test of the year at the 125th US Open in New York.
The beautiful but beastly Shinnecock Hills will host the sport's most gruelling annual major championship for a sixth time and the first since Brooks Koepka ground out a one-over par winning total in 2018.
Part of the genius of the William Flynn-designed layout on Long Island are three sections of holes that form a triangle, ensuring players face a different wind for each of them.
The USGA has done its part to make sure conditions don't become unplayable, like they almost did eight years ago when six-times US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson infamously putted a moving ball on the green while racking up a 10.
Officials have kept the course as green and hydrated as possible in anticipation of a windy week as world No.1 Scottie Scheffler chases golf's seventh career grand slam and talismanic Australian Adam Scott contests a mind-blowing 100th consecutive major.
"I still love the golf course," Scott said ahead of Thursday night's first round (AEST) despite missing the cut on his two previous Open tilts at Shinnecock.
"It's as good as any test we have at the US Open."
Fellow Australian Lucas Herbert is returning after also missing the cut in 2018 when he opened with a 13-over 83 in a nightmare major championship debut.
"None of us were ready for what it was," Herbert said.
"I haven't played Oakmont, but I would say Oakmont and Winged Foot might be the only two US Opens venues that are probably harder than Shinnecock."
Hence why Herbert plans to take his medicine in a measured quest to contend come Sunday.
"I mean, you're picking your battles, right? US Opens, you can make a bogey here and there and you're going to do that and that's fine," he said.
"Every single hole is a very, very tough challenge and you're probably supposed to make bogey, so inevitably they're going to come at some point.
"What the challenge is, is making sure it's not a double or worse."
With 25kph wind gusts the norm at Shinnecock, sometimes whipping up to double that, and deep rough and fast, undulating greens, there will be nowhere to hide for Scott, Herbert and fellow Australians Min Woo Lee, Cameron Smith and 2011 US Open runner-up Jason Day.
"There will be a lot of putting from off greens over little mounds and crests and speed control is going to be a premium on those greens," Herbert said.
"The bunkers are quite a heavy sand, almost like beach sand, so that will make it trickier to stop shots short of tight pins.
"And then probably just getting used to hitting driver or a long iron off the tee with different crosswinds because they always pretty generous but, if you miss them, you're in knee-high rough."
With fresh belief after notching his first top-10 at a major since the 2024 Masters, Smith will be the first Australian out, at 9.19pm Thursday (AEST).
Herbert and Scott also have morning tee times before Day and Lee open their first rounds in the afternoon.
