Rory McIlroy's 'Stupid' Claim
The US Open returns to Shinnecock Hills this week, and Rory McIlroy has weighed in on a controversial decision by the USGA. The organization plans to water the greens between early and late groups on Thursday and Friday, a move McIlroy initially called 'stupid.' However, after hearing the reasoning, he changed his mind.
'When I first heard of it, my first reaction was, 'That's stupid, why are they doing that?' But then once you actually listened and you let them break it down to you, you're like, yeah, that makes sense,' McIlroy said. He added that his concern was about the appearance of losing control of the course, but he now believes the USGA will not overwater.
Shinnecock Hills has hosted the US Open five times previously, with the last two editions sparking controversy. In 2004, Tiger Woods claimed the USGA lost control due to lightning-fast greens, and in 2018, Phil Mickelson deliberately struck a moving ball on the 13th green.
Brooks Koepka's Injury Update
Brooks Koepka, the 2018 US Open champion at Shinnecock Hills, faced an injury scare after withdrawing from the RBC Canadian Open with a hand problem. He reported numb fingers and an inability to grip clubs properly. However, after a nine-hole practice round on Tuesday, Koepka provided a positive update.
'It's getting better day by day. I would say yesterday was pretty much how it was on Sunday, but today there was quite a bit of improvement. I don't think I would have gone out and played if it wasn't,' Koepka said. He noted that while grip strength is not 100%, there is no pain, which he called 'the weirdest part of this whole thing.'
US Open Preview
The US Open begins Thursday at Shinnecock Hills, with J.J. Spaun defending his title after winning at Oakmont Country Club last year with a 1-under-par total. Scottie Scheffler seeks a Career Grand Slam, while McIlroy, the reigning double Masters champion, aims for another major. The field is packed with top talent, and the treacherous greens promise a tough test.
