The 1896 U.S. Open was the second U.S. Open, held July 18 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. James Foulis won his only major title, three strokes ahead of runner-up Horace Rawlins, the defending champion. Like the first Open, it was a sideshow to the U.S. Amateur. However, there were 35 entrants and 28 finished the 36 holes. Foulis, the third-place finisher in the inaugural U.S. Open the year before, recorded rounds of 78-74 to prevail by three over Rawlins. Foulis' 74 set a record that was not broken until 1903, after the rubber-core ball had come into use.