SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) The world’s best golfers are crossing their fingers and hoping for luck as they head to Shinnecock Hills for the U.S. Open this week.

It’s not the pin placements or green speeds they’re worried about.

Not the weather or the depth of the rough, either.

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It’s the Long Island traffic that has snarled their commutes to the course, stranding them on two- and four-lane roads, staring at brake lights for hours on trips that would otherwise be as short as 15 minutes.

”It’s the worst traffic I’ve ever dealt with at a golf tournament,” said Brian Stuard, a pro since 2005 who left at 6 a.m. for his Monday practice round and still needed more than two hours to get to the course. ”I’m still trying to figure it out.”

Long a haven for New York City-dwellers eager to flee the pavement for the beach, the Hamptons are hardly new to traffic: The morning crawl of builders, landscapers and other laborers on their way to job sites is known locally as t..

You might think professional golfers have it easy, but their relationship with the game away from tournaments is complicated.

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.

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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) 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.

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1 p.m.

Rickie Fowler couldn’t have..

Andrew RedingtonSOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Maybe Rickie Fowler isn't as romantic as we all thought. We swooned when he shared those photos of him on bended knee on a Hamptons beach the week before the U.S. Open — what a magical moment! — and thought he had pulled off a well-thought-out plan in getting girlfriend Allison Stokke to say yes. Turns out, there wasn't much of a plan at all.
“Well, nothing against the area,” Fowler began after being asked by a local reporter about the significance of the proposal's location. “It wasn't necessarily — there was nothing planned out. I just really didn't want to carry the ring around any longer.”
THE GRIND: Rickie Fowler's proposal & a golf summit we'd like to see
I just really didn't want to carry the ring around any longer is a feeling a lot of guys in Fowler's position have felt. Heck, I thought I was going to have to throw out the pants I proposed in because it felt like the ring was actually burning ..

A Closer Look at Shinnecock's Par-3 17th Hole

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.

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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.