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It didn’t take long after the final putt dropped at Shinnecock Hills for the conversation to shift from the golf to the gallery.
By Monday, Long Island’s U.S. Open crowd was facing sharp criticism, with longtime golf analyst Eamon Lynch taking aim at the fans’ behavior and questioning whether the region deserves to host future major championships.
“The PGA of America is supposed to go back to Bethpage in 2033 with the PGA Championship. That should not happen. These people do not deserve a major championship,” Lynch said on Golf Channel.
He went on to say that “Long Island golf fans are a stain on the game of golf.”
Sportswriter Rick Reilly took it a step further, posting on X, “Hey US Open and Ryder Cup, Stop bringing great golf events to New Yorkers,” while using an expletive to describe Long Island golf fans.
Hey US Open and Ryder Cup,
— Rick Reilly (@ReillyRick) June 22, 2026
Stop bringing great golf events to New Yorkers. They're douche bags and don't deserve them. https://t.co/CcYdLIYKUk
The comments followed a weekend in which the Southampton crowd repeatedly became part of the story.
During Sunday’s final round, multiple spectators were ejected for repeatedly heckling eventual U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark, including taunts of “don’t choke Wyndham” and “get in the bunker” as he played the closing holes.
Players also acknowledged that the crowd crossed the line at times.
“The crowd was tough today. I mean, New Yorkers, they are tough people,” Scottie Scheffler said after the final round. “There was a good turnout from the fans. You like seeing the fans cheer for you. I think sometimes it can get a little too much when balls are kind of going off greens and you start hearing cheers. That felt a bit much to me.”
Clark said the environment was unusual for a major championship but that he adjusted during his round.
“Man, they definitely didn’t want me to win,” Clark said. “It’s pretty rare in an Open Championship or a major to have fans kind of boo against your shots or cheer for bad shots. Yeah, I mean, that was tough, but sometimes being the underdog is nice.”
The reaction at Shinnecock followed similar criticism of last year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where crowd behavior also became a storyline.
Rory McIlroy was among the players who voiced frustration during that event, saying portions of the atmosphere went too far.
McIlroy also said his wife, Erica Stoll, was targeted when a beer was thrown in her direction during the competition.
“I don’t think we should ever accept that in golf,” McIlroy said after Europe’s 15-13 win. “Golf should be held to a higher standard than what was seen out there this week. Golf has the ability to unite people. It teaches etiquette. It teaches you how to play by the rules. It teaches you how to respect people.”
Lynch pointed to Augusta National as a contrast, citing its strict spectator policies, tight control of phones and enforcement of patron conduct.
Despite the backlash, several major golf events remain scheduled for Long Island.
The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is set to come to Bethpage Black in 2028, followed by the PGA Championship in 2033. The U.S. Open is scheduled to return to Shinnecock Hills in 2036.
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