USGA Sacrifices Tens of Millions at 2026 U.S. Open as Shinnecock Draws Smaller Crowds
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 21
USGA Sacrifices Tens of Millions at 2026 U.S. Open as Shinnecock Draws Smaller Crowds
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 21
Summary
USGA CEO Mike Whan said staging the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills will cost the organization “tens of millions of dollars” because it chose history and course quality over maximum revenue.
30,000 tickets were made available for tournament days, but only 21,000 fans entered Thursday and 27,000 on Friday; Whan said total attendance this week will top out around 155,000 versus roughly 215,000 at Oakmont and 250,000 at Pinehurst.
That tradeoff also meant selling 25% fewer tickets than last year, while taking on higher infrastructure and transportation costs at the remote Long Island venue 90 miles east of Times Square.
Empty grandstands and early fan departures underscored the challenge, with Wyndham Clark saying Saturday’s finish felt flat as spectators thinned and train schedules pulled people away.
The USGA says the hit is deliberate: its long-term rota mixes compact “cathedral” courses such as Shinnecock, Merion and Riviera with bigger-revenue sites like Pebble Beach, Pinehurst and Oakland Hills.