A phrase often heard in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach is “marine layer,” what most people refer to as fog. The buzz word for Shinnecock Hills? That would be “syringe.”
It’s a strange choice of words for watering the greens, but that’s key at Shinnecock because the greens tend to dry quickly on putting surfaces exposed to the wind.
And yes, the greens will be “syringed” this week.
John Bodenhamer, the chief competitions officer for the USGA, said the first time tee times Thursday and Friday has been moved up 10 minutes to allow the greens to be doused between the morning and afternoon waves.
“It involves a very light application of water to hydrate the grass leaf blade to prevent wilt, most importantly, to preserve turf health, and to reduce stress on these poa annua greens,” Bodenhamer said. “Poa annua reacts differently and more quickly than most other grasses in these types of conditions, so we think syringing is very important.”
He said that will allow for more consistent conditions.
Syringing greens at Shinnecock was most memorable in 2004, when shots to the par-3 seventh hole would not hold the greens. Early in the final round, USGA officials began lightly spraying the greens between groups.
The 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills was one of the most demanding major championship tests in recent memory.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 17, 2026
With high winds on tap this week on Long Island, could a similar challenge await?
Shinnecock played to 6,996 yards for the 2004 U.S. Open, which began relatively… pic.twitter.com/XeipwjnraW
As for the weekend, when there is no break in the tee times, it gets trickier.
“We’ve given a lot of consideration into hydrating it closer to play,” Bodenhamer said. “So where that first group is, we will hydrate closer to that first group than we have in the past so we can get through the day a little bit longer.
“I also think the syringing that we’ll do Thursday and Friday will keep the leaf blade healthier longer going into the weekend on Saturday for those high winds.”
