USGA tightens fan conduct after unruly US Open crowd at Shinnecock Hills

The USGA’s new fan code of conduct was supposed to set the tone for championship golf, but Shinnecock Hills showed how quickly a loud crowd can test those rules. During the final round of the U.S. Open, spectators were ejected for chanting “Don’t choke Wyndham!” at Wyndham Clark, and a credentialed spectator was reportedly removed by law enforcement as Clark prepared to hit on No. 4.

The policy, which took effect April 9, 2026, prohibits abusive, threatening, taunting, disruptive, intoxicated or trespassing behavior at USGA championships. The 2026 U.S. Open fan guide for the June 18-21 event in Southampton, New York, went further, spelling out conduct policies, mobile-device rules, etiquette expectations and a section telling spectators how to report suspicious and unruly behavior. Fans were also instructed to obey marshals, officials, volunteers, law enforcement and security.

Clark’s win came against a hostile backdrop that extended beyond a few hecklers. Reports linked the crowd’s fixation on him to earlier controversies, including a driver-throwing incident at the 2024 PGA Championship and a locker-room damage episode at Oakmont during the 2025 U.S. Open. At Shinnecock, that history helped turn him into the day’s lightning rod, underscoring how quickly social media and memory can amplify a player’s past into a live-event flashpoint.

Golf officials have reason to worry about what that means for the sport’s public face. The U.S. Open is open to any professional or amateur with a Handicap Index not exceeding 0.4, and the field numbered 156 players, but the crowd pressure around modern majors can be enormous. Oakmont’s 2025 U.S. Open final round was expected to draw more than 35,000 fans, a reminder that the sport now manages conditions closer to a major entertainment event than a quiet walk in the park.

The concern is not limited to one tournament or one venue. Rowdy behavior at the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black prompted debate over crowd control, and the 2025 Ryder Cup at the same Long Island course drew sharp criticism when former U.S. captain Tom Watson said he was “ashamed” of the “rude” behavior of American fans. For the USGA, the message from Shinnecock is clear: tighter conduct rules, stronger security language and faster removal of unruly spectators are becoming central to protecting golf’s image, player safety and sponsor appeal.