Rory McIlroy explains ‘unique’ 2 p.m. watering…
Rory McIlroy initially had the same response many golf followers may need had to one of the more uncommon options at this week’s U.S. Open.
Why are they watering the course in the center of the day?
McIlroy was requested about the chance of Shinnecock Hills being watered between waves on Thursday and Friday, with officers trying to handle circumstances during the opening rounds of the match.
At first, he didn’t get it.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland speaks to the media during a apply spherical prior to the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 16, 2026 in Southampton, New York. Getty Images
“When I first heard of it my first reaction was, ‘That’s stupid, why are they doing that?’” McIlroy said.
But after listening to the reasoning, McIlroy said the plan made more sense — particularly at Shinnecock.
“It’s a unique golf course,” McIlroy said. “The members at Shinnecock will tell you they do that every single day — every single day at this course the members play, they put water on the course at 2 p.m. So, it’s a unique golf course and it seems like it’s just something they have to do.”
McIlroy arrives at the U.S. Open as one of the match’s central figures, coming off another Masters win and trying to add a second U.S. Open title to the one he claimed in 2011.
That makes his view on the setup notable, significantly at a venue where circumstances can rapidly develop into half of the story.
The concern, McIlroy said, will not be the act of watering itself. It is the notion that officers is likely to be reacting because the course has develop into too troublesome to control.
(*2*) he said.
A groundskeeper waters the first inexperienced during a apply spherical prior to the 126th U.S. OPEN at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 16, 2026. Getty Images
Shinnecock has a historical past of testing the road between troublesome and unfair at U.S. Opens, making any mid-round upkeep plan particularly delicate.
McIlroy said the anticipated wind on Thursday makes the concept more comprehensible, significantly if the aim is to keep circumstances truthful between the morning and afternoon waves.
“I think, especially with the heaviness of the wind on Thursday, it’s probably prudent to do that,” McIlroy said.
Rory McIlroy on gap 7 during a apply spherical for the U.S. Open golf match. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
Friday will not be anticipated to be as windy, but McIlroy said the same strategy might still make sense for aggressive stability.
“Friday doesn’t look as windy, but I think just for, again, fairness and competitive integrity, they do it on Friday, too,” he said.
McIlroy doesn’t anticipate the plan to be needed deep into the weekend, when officers ought to have more flexibility with a smaller area.
“I think they’ve got enough bandwidth on the weekend that they probably don’t need to do it,” he said.
For McIlroy, the reason modified the way in which he considered what might in any other case seem like an uncommon mid-round intervention.
“Once you actually listened and you let them break it down to you, you’re like, yeah, that makes sense,” he said.
By Thursday, though, McIlroy’s consideration will probably be back on the golf as he begins his latest chase for another U.S. Open title.
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