ESPN Golf: USGA Employs Slower Greens and 'Syringing' to Avoid Repeating Shinnecock Hills Chaos

USGA Takes Deliberate Steps to Prevent Another Shinnecock Disaster

With the 126th U.S. Open set to begin at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, the USGA has outlined a series of unusual but deliberate course management decisions designed to ensure fair competition—even in the face of extreme forecast winds.

Key Adjustments

Slower Greens Than Typical U.S. Open Standards

The USGA is targeting a Stimpmeter reading of approximately 10.5, well below the 11.5–12.0 range typically sought for a U.S. Open. This would mark the slowest green speeds at the championship since Corey Pavin's victory at Shinnecock in 1995.

'Syringing' Between Waves

Perhaps the most unconventional measure is "syringing"—lightly watering the putting surfaces during the roughly 30-minute gap between morning and afternoon wave tee times. To create that window, morning tee times were moved up by 10 minutes. USGA chief championships officer John Bodenhamer compared the technique to the misting systems used in grocery store produce sections. Shinnecock's sandy coastal soil is particularly prone to rapid moisture loss, making active moisture management essential.

Wind-Responsive Hole Locations

Thursday's forecast calls for sustained winds of 12–24 mph with gusts exceeding 40 mph. Saturday's wind shift to the northwest introduces a distinct challenge, with some greens playing back-to-front rather than front-to-back. The USGA has factored wind direction into hole placement decisions throughout the week.

Historical Context

The 2004 and 2018 U.S. Opens at Shinnecock both drew significant criticism. In 2004, 28 players failed to break 80 on Sunday. In 2018, Phil Mickelson struck a moving ball on the 13th green in frustration, earning a two-stroke penalty. Bodenhamer acknowledged the USGA "learned a great deal from 2018."

2018 champion Brooks Koepka noted the course is "definitely a lot softer" and greens are noticeably slower than he remembers—confirming that this year's setup will demand a different style of play than prior Shinnecock Opens.