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  "path": "/sport/golf/rory-mcilroy-announces-u-turn-us-open",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-18T12:39:23.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Thomas Tuchel left furious after national anthem incident in England World Cup win over Croatia",
    "Cristiano Ronaldo was finished at the last World Cup and Portugal have bowed to him for too long",
    "Thomas Tuchel spotted having heated row with England star during World Cup victory over Croatia",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nRory McIlroy has revealed he performed a swift U-turn after initially branding a controversial United States Golf Association decision as \"stupid\" ahead of this week's US Open at Shinnecock Hills.\n\nThe USGA confirmed earlier this week that officials intend to syringe the greens between the morning and afternoon waves on Thursday and Friday in a bid to maintain consistent playing conditions.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe move has become a major talking point before the opening round, particularly with strong winds forecast to sweep across one of golf's toughest venues.\n\nMcIlroy admitted his first reaction to the plan was far from positive.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n\"When I first heard of it my first reaction was, 'That's stupid, why are they doing that?'\" the Northern Irishman said.\n\nHowever, after learning more about conditions at Shinnecock Hills, the reigning Masters champion quickly changed his mind.\n\n\"It's a unique golf course,\" McIlroy explained.\n\n\"The members at Shinnecock will tell you they do that every single day.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"Every single day at this course the members play, they put water on the course at 2 p.m.\"\n\nMcIlroy stressed that his main concern was the perception that tournament organisers had lost control of the setup.\n\n\"For me it's more my concern was you don't want it to look as if you've lost the golf course and you're starting to put water on it, which I don't think is what they're going to do,\" he said.\n\nWith gusty conditions expected during Thursday's opening round, McIlroy accepts the decision may actually help preserve fairness between players teeing off early and late in the day.\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Thomas Tuchel left furious after national anthem incident in England World Cup win over Croatia\n  * Cristiano Ronaldo was finished at the last World Cup and Portugal have bowed to him for too long\n  * Thomas Tuchel spotted having heated row with England star during World Cup victory over Croatia\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"I think especially with the heaviness of the wind on Thursday it's probably prudent to do that,\" he said.\n\n\"Friday doesn't look as windy but I think just for again fairness and competitive integrity they do it on Friday too.\"\n\nMcIlroy heads into the championship among the favourites after an impressive run at the US Open in recent years.\n\nAlthough he endured a miserable week at Shinnecock in 2018, missing the cut after opening with a 10-over-par 80, he has since established himself as one of the event's most consistent performers.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe 2011 champion recorded six successive top-10 finishes before ending tied for 19th at Oakmont last year.\n\nMcIlroy believes his growing patience has played a key role in improving his performances at the tournament.\n\n\"If you can get your ball to the middle of the greens here and just putt to the corners wherever the flags are going to be, that's never going to be a bad strategy,\" he said.\n\n\"It hasn't gotten me the trophy, but it's gotten me pretty close for a few years.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"But I definitely feel like I've become a lot better of a U.S. Open player by trying to really stay patient throughout the week and not taking on too much.\"\n\nMcIlroy is now chasing a second US Open crown and a seventh major title overall, convinced Shinnecock remains the ultimate examination in golf when conditions are at their toughest.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\"I think if everything is going the way everyone wants it in terms of weather, setup, I think it's the best championship test in the country,\" he said.\n\n\"I think it tests all aspects of the game: driving, iron play, you need to have your wits about you on the greens.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Rory McIlroy announces U-turn after branding US Open decision 'stupid'"
}