U.S. Open 2026: The little-known USGA rule that stumped Jim Furyk on the broadcast
Andrew Redington
Weather was always expected on Thursday of the 126th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock. Just not the type of weather that’s already halted play early in the first round on Long Island.
A half hour into the opening round, play was suspended due to fog, with players holding in place for 15 minutes. Because the weather was not dangerous, players in the middle of a hole did have the option to finish that hole, something the group of Alejandro Tosti, Matthew Jordan and amateur Chase Kyes took advantage of.
During the mini-delay, the USA broadcast crew brought in Jay Roberts, the USGA’s Senior Manager of Rules, to discuss the players’ options and when the fog was expected to dissipate. Analyst Tom Abbott asked Roberts if, during the delay, players were allowed to practice on the previous green while they waited.
Roberts said practice, in general, was allowed to continue, both on the putting green and the other practice areas. And they would be allowed to practice on the hole they just completed if they were holding in place on the course, too.
Jim Furyk, the lead analyst on the broadcast and a former U.S. Open champion, was stumped by this.
“I had no idea,” he said.
But Abbott revealed another little-known USGA rule during this discussion—players could also practice on the previous green during play as long as you don’t hold up play. Wait, what?
“It’s something a lot of players don’t know,” Abbott said.
“I was totally unaware,” Furyk responded.
It’s true, per Rule 5.5b, which reads as follows:
After completing play of a hole, but before making a stroke to begin another hole, a player must not make a practice stroke.
Exception – Where Player Allowed to Practise Putting or Chipping: The player may practise putting or chipping on or near:
- The putting green of the hole just completed and any practice green (see Rule 13.1e), and
- The teeing area of the next hole.
But such practice strokes must not be made from a bunker and must not unreasonably delay play (see Rule 5.6a).
It almost sounds to absurd to be true, but it’s right there on the USGA website. You learn something new every day.