AI takes center stage at this year’s U.S. Open, helping fans follow the action and golfers navigate the rules

Artificial intelligenceAI takes center stage at this year’s U.S. Open, helping fans follow the action and golfers navigate the rulesThe U.S. Golf Association hopes the new tools will help fans enjoy the U.S. Open and equip recreational players to navigate the sport’s rulebook.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Justine Goode / NBC News; Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 21, 2026, 12:51 PM EDTBy Jared PerloSHINNECOCK HILLS, N.Y. — Tens of thousands of golf fans have come to eastern Long Island this weekend to watch the world’s best golfers battle stiff Atlantic winds and winding fairways at the 126th U.S. Open at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.While golf’s traditions have changed little since the tournament’s inception in the late 1800s, the AI boom has given rise to a new generation of tools to help players understand the game’s rules and fans enjoy major tournaments.To help players navigate golf’s rules and receive quick, clear advice, the sport’s governing body in the U.S. and organizer of the U.S. Open, the U.S. Golf Association, recently launched a chatbot-like tool called Rules AI.“Rules AI is about meeting golfers where they are and giving them access to answers that are as good or better than our own experts,” said Craig Winter, the USGA’s senior director for the rules of golf, in an email to NBC News. “The USGA has a deep respect for golf’s tradition, but that shouldn’t prevent us from improving how people experience playing the game.”The USGA has established 24 foundational rules that cover everything from equipment requirements to penalties players should face if they hit their ball into a sandy bunker.Yet interpreting those rules can be almost as challenging as trying to whack the ball toward the flagstick. What should a player do if their ball comes to a halt on a paved (and unplayable) road? What happens if a golf ball ricochets...