Tiger Woods Chats Before Teeing it Up in His 20th U.S. Open

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) The Latest on the U.S. Open, golf’s second major championship of the year (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

The USGA prefers the U.S. Open to be played in firm, dry and fast conditions. It was raining Wednesday, so USGA chief executive Mike Davis was all smiles.

Article continues below …

Davis says the forecast for the four days of competition calls for plenty of sunshine and enough breeze to make Shinnecock Hills play the way it should. He says the light rain on Wednesday is keeping the course from getting too fast before Thursday’s opening round, and it will allow the USGA to have more control over how firm the ground gets.

Davis also says he has changed some of the pin positions because of the wind expected for the opening round.

The last time the U.S. Open was at Shinnecock Hills, in 2004, the course became so bone dry that golf balls wouldn’t stay on the seventh green and only three players broke par on the weekend.

—

1 p.m.

Rickie Fowler couldn’t have..

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) The Latest on the U.S. Open, golf’s second major championship of the year (all times local):

5:20 p.m.

This year’s U.S. Open will be a chance to celebrate the state of golf in the country.

Article continues below …

Americans hold all four of golf’s major trophies for the first time since 2004. Patrick Reed won the Masters this year, joining PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, British Open champ Jordan Spieth and last year’s U.S. Open winner, Brooks Koepka.

The last time that happened was 2004, when Phil Mickelson won his first major. At the time, Jim Furyk (U.S. Open), Ben Curtis (British) and Shaun Micheel were the reigning champions.

But it’s not just the majors.

The United States also won the most recent Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, Solheim Cup and Walker Cup.

—

4:15 p.m.

Justin Rose is one of six players with a chance to leave Shinnecock Hills on Sunday night as the world’s No. 1 golfer.

And the 2013 U.S. Open champion knows just how he wants to..

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Rory McIlroy has played a lot of golf in June. Nearly all of it was for fun.

He played at National, Friar’s Head and Garden City. Although that wasn’t exactly designed as preparation for the U.S. Open that begins Thursday at Shinnecock Hills, it can’t hurt as McIlroy seeks his second American title. He won it in 2011.

McIlroy said Wednesday that he played 18 out of 19 days, taking off Saturday to recharge his batteries.

Article continues below …

He played with friends from the area as he stayed on Long Island. His accommodations for the U.S. Open are close to Shinnecock Hills.

He says, ”it’s not a bad place to spend a couple of weeks in the summer.”

He was particularly impressed by Friar’s Head and National, both of which he’d never played. And perhaps picked up some tips on wind and grass conditions.

Outside the world's most prestigious golf clubs sits a mom-and-pop driving range. And it's quite the scene.

Ask Golf Digest: Golf Digest answers your most burning questions.

On a day when all Americans are entitled to a free taco from Taco Bell thanks to a recent Golden State Warriors win, Arby's announced a similar promotion. Only it involves roast beef sandwiches and Andrew “Beef” Johnston winning this week's U.S. Open. Beef is a lovely bloke, but at 300-to-1 odds, we're not counting on cashing in.
RELATED: Our 13 top picks to win the 2018 U.S. Open
No matter how the affable Brit plays this week, though, he's already won the award for most interesting/aggressive towel at Shinnecock Hills:
FacebookPinterestWe're getting the meat sweats just looking at that thing.
Anyway, if Beef does pull off the unlikely win this week, Arby's will be handing out free bacon, beef n' cheddar sandwiches on July 4. May the best Beef man win.
RELATED: Bubba Watson is a burrito-wielding menace
WATCH MORE VIDEOS FROM THE LOOP

Augmented reality meets GPS: Golfshot's new update offers 360-degree AR features to tap and zoom on hazard views

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Tiger Woods brought his yacht, Privacy, to a U.S. Open in New York and missed the cut for the first time in a major.

That was 12 years ago when the Open was at Winged Foot.

He can only hope for a different outcome at Shinnecock Hills.

Article continues below …

”Staying on the dinghy helps,” Woods said with a grin.

The 155-foot yacht is said to include a Jacuzzi, gym and movie theater. It doesn’t sound as though Woods has spent much time ashore except for being at Shinnecock Hills for his first U.S. Open in three years.

”Sag Harbor is a cute little town,” he said. ”I’ve only been there for a few days now. I haven’t really got a chance to walk about a little bit, but certainly will this week. So far, it’s been nice to kind of get away from the tournament scene and go there to my dinghy, and just really enjoy it.”

Woods at least has been able to avoid the traffic that has led to commutes of close to two hours from the official hotel depending on the time of..

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Daddy’s little girl is waiting. Patrick Reed would like to deliver her a nice present – on Father’s Day, no less.

”The biggest thing is try to get trophies,” Reed said Tuesday ahead of the U.S. Open. ”I keep on promising my daughter that I’m going to bring her home a trophy every time I leave the house.”

The last one Reed presented 4-year-old Windsor-Wells was from the Masters. That was only two months ago, his first major victory. Reed finished at 15-under par at Augusta National to beat Rickie Fowler by a stroke and Jordan Spieth by two.

Article continues below …

”To be able to come to the U.S. Open, especially after winning the last major, definitely gives me a little more confidence and gives me that self-belief as well as a comfort level that whatever comes down Sunday, if we have a chance to win the golf tournament, I’ve done it before,” Reed said.

Before this year, Reed’s best major finish was a tie for 12th in the 2016 British Open. He closed out l..