U.S. Open underway at Shinnecock with limited attendance and traffic issues

The U.S. Open began Thursday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., with a fog-delayed first round and lower than expected attendance. Daily crowds are capped at under 30,000, with many grandstands not full despite some popular groups like Rory McIlroy's drawing larger spectators. This lower turnout is attributed to competition from the ongoing World Cup and the New York Knicks' NBA Finals parade. Traffic remains heavy in the Hamptons, prompting some attendees to utilize helicopter services to avoid congestion. Ticket sales have not sold out for any round of this year's event, which could lead to more interest from local fans as the weekend approaches.

• 10:28 PMYahoo Sports — U.S. Open Begins at Shinnecock With Smaller Crowds, Plenty of Traffic