The USGA is actively managing Shinnecock Hills to prevent extreme winds from making the U.S. Open unplayable. Key measures include heavy watering, slowing green speeds, and using a misting technique called “syringing” to ensure competitive fairness for all players.
Tournament officials are bracing for a severe weather test. The forecast for the opening round is brutal. USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer laid out the threat, stating, “Thursday, sustained winds throughout the day of 12 to 24,” and “More on the upper end of that with gusts from 24 to 36 miles an hour. When we start to talk about numbers in the mid-30s, that becomes problematic in a number of ways. Golf balls just staying still on the putting green.” Some models even show winds exceeding 40 mph.
This isn’t just a tough day. It’s a threat to the competition’s integrity. To avoid a repeat of the 2018 U.S. Open at this same venue—when players accused the USGA of losing control of the course—officials began altering their setup plan last Friday. Green speeds are being reduced from a slick 11.5 or 12 on the Stimpmeter down to a more manageable 10.5. Hole locations have been selected that “will account for the wind but will also give us our best chance so we can just play in those types of winds.”
The USGA is also deploying a tactic called syringing. This involves lightly spritzing the greens between the morning and afternoon waves to keep the grass healthy without impacting playability. To accommodate the process, tee times are starting 10 minutes earlier than usual. The goal, according to Bodenhamer, is to deliver “a more consistent playing presentation to both the morning and afternoon waves both days. It will be consistent across both days, which we think enhances competitive fairness.”
