Clark Torches Shinnecock, Riggs Wants USGA to Turn Up the Heat

But even as Clark was putting on a clinic, the real conversation happening in real time was about the course itself. Riggs was not subtle about it. His message to the USGA: enough with the 'Southampton Classic' vibes — turn Shinnecock back into Shinnecock. The complaint isn't just hot take for the sake of hot take. A LIV pro interviewed post-round by BBC Sport echoed the sentiment on camera, saying the course played 'potentially a little over soft' and 'like a completely different golf course' with balls spinning back downwind. The USGA's rationale — possible 40 mph winds in the forecast — is defensible, but when pros are going low at Shinnecock Hills, you're either setting up the stage for history or leaving meat on the bone of one of the hardest setups in golf.

Riggs

@RiggsBarstool

Look the championship has barely begun, lots of golf left, and I don’t blame the @USGA exercising a bit of caution with possible 40mph winds. But we get Shinnecock once a decade. Going fwd here I’d rather we err on the side of guys short-circuiting running around hitting moving balls and sending out the Coast Guard looking for a lost golf course than hearing it called “too soft” post round. Let Shinnecock be Shinnecock!

The USGA did get one thing right Thursday: they reversed a ruling after fans and video evidence confirmed a ball wasn't lifted — a genuinely cool moment where the crowd essentially won a rules dispute. And then there was the group of guys in pink polos who pushed a charter bus out of the mud near the grounds, which is honestly the most U.S. Open fan energy possible. Shinnecock is only on the major rotation once a decade. The setup debate will rage until Sunday. Clark finishing those 2 remaining holes Thursday morning might be the most interesting tee time of the week.