Tiny U.S. Open Crowds Were an Embarrassing Disaster

This can’t happen again.
Tiny U.S. Open Crowds Were an Embarrassing Disaster
Tiny U.S. Open Crowds Were an Embarrassing Disaster /

Wyndham Clark never will forget the 2023 U.S. Open, where he won his first major championship in impressive fashion and forever changed his career. 

You know who will want to forget the 2023 U.S. Open? Every fan who watched it on television, because between Paul Azinger’s awful analysis to the tiny crowds at Los Angeles Country Club, much of this tournament—our country’s national championship—was an embarrassing disaster that never should be repeated. 

The biggest problem at LACC was the lack of atmosphere we’re accustomed to seeing at the U.S. Open. The crowds were small and quiet for the most part, and there’s a reason why they were like that—the USGA and LACC teamed up to make it impossible for large crowds to walk the grounds of the extremely private country club: 

Those numbers are stunning and show why average fans who wanted to show up to celebrate our country’s biggest golf tournament had no chance of even getting through the gates. The whole thing was pretty much a corporate outing, which didn’t play well at all on TV or even on the grounds. 

The lack of atmosphere wasn’t just noticed by fans watching at home. Last year’s U.S. Open champion, Matthew Fitzpatrick, sounded of on the topic after Saturday’s third round: 

What makes things even worse is that LACC already has been awarded the 2039 U.S. Open, which is a thing that shouldn’t happen after these past four days: 

LACC is a world-class golf course, but the U.S. Open should be a championship that’s played in front of the masses. That didn’t happen this time around, and golf fans were not happy about it. 


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Andy Nesbitt
ANDY NESBITT

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.