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USGA Made Mistakes on Sunday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Alex Miceli | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 6:20 PM ET

The weather was always foretasted to be part of the 125^th U.S. Open.

While the USGA got lucky with the weather in Saturday’s third round, the final round was much more problematic.

It was known to the Blue Blazers that the weather was an issue, but their response was to do nothing.

Instead, they allowed Mother Nature to decide what happened on Sunday, and if you read the comments of those players who got the worst of it, the leaders, none were happy with the weather deciding the winner.

The USGA would respond that the player who best dealt with the rain and, in some cases, wind deserves to win.

Remember the 15 clubs comment? The new USGA mantra is to get all 14 clubs and the 15^th between your ears dirty.

Winner J.J. Spaun did precisely that and deserved to win in that scenario, but should we have been in that scenario?

When does Adam Scott hit a wedge 30 yards over a green as he did on Sunday after returning from the delay?

Or Sam Bruns, hitting a hook so far left on the 15^th hole, may have landed in the town of Oakmont, versus the Borough of Plum, where Oakmont Country Club is located.

“When I walked into it, clearly you could see water coming up,” Burns said of a questionable ruling involving casual water.” Took practice swings, and it's just water splashing every single time. Called a rule official over, they disagreed. I looked at it again. I thought maybe I should get a second opinion. That rules official also disagreed.”

Even Scott was unclear about the ruling.

“I was thinking of asking as well. It was borderline unplayable,” Scott said of the Burns issue. “The water was like so close to the surface. Like the shot I hit on 11, it's bizarre. I just don't know. It was like an aquaplane on the ground.”

Scott did agree that everyone had to deal with it, but why?

With the USGA knowing the forecast, why not go off two tees on Sunday in threesomes, which would have finished the round before the rain came that caused a 90-minute delay and questionable playing conditions?

The USGA response was they were happy with the result, but could they not have done better, it is the U.S. Open after all.

Fans and players deserve better.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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