Shinnecock's winds pose major challenge at the U.S. Open

Shinnecock Hills finally started to bare its teeth as forecast higher winds finally arrived and organizers toughened up the course for the third round of the US Open on Saturday. With one gust of 40 miles per hour (64 kilometres per hour) already recorded – the strongest of the week – and the greens having gained at least an extra six inches of speed, the traditional ‘moving day’ had all the hallmarks of the direction being backwards.

Nothing creates more indecision for golfers than the wind and the forecast is calling for it to wreak havoc at Shinnecock Hills at the U.S. Open.

Wind at Shinnecock Hills is as inevitable as traffic along the Montauk Highway from the infamous “trade parade.” “Problematic,” is how John Bodenhamer, the chief competitions officer at the USGA, described excessive wind. Adding to the concern are the previous two trips to Shinnecock Hills, when the wind and warmth dried out the course in a New York minute and caused the greens to be borderline unplayable.

When it comes to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, William Flynn’s classic, Long Island sandscape and widely regarded as the U.S. Open’s preeminent cathedral, the USGA's John Bodenhamer would rather not repeat history, again.

Shinnecock is the most revered and fearsome test in major championship golf, a windswept brute capable of bringing anyone and everyone in the field to their knees.