From Madison Square Garden to Shinnecock: US Open Invites Josh Hart and Knicks to Watch Golf Major After NBA Title

After ending a historic 53-year championship drought, the New York Knicks are being courted by the USGA to swap their sneakers for golf clubs at this year’s major.

The streets of Manhattan are still buzzing from the Knicks' historic championship run, but for Josh Hart, the post-game transition might be quieter than expected. Fresh off a grueling postseason where he averaged a gritty 10.4 points and 8.9 rebounds, Hart took to social media to signal a change of pace: "Now we play golf! Just got to figure out where to get a golf membership in NY."

The United States Golf Association (USGA) was quick to respond to the viral post. In a move that highlights the crossover appeal of elite athletes, the US Open invites Josh Hart and his championship-winning teammates to watch the golf major after their NBA title celebrations. The tournament, hosted at the iconic Shinnecock Hills, is one of the most prestigious dates on the calendar, and the invitation extends a rare opportunity for the team to decompress in the wake of their triumph over the San Antonio Spurs.

A logistical dance in New York

The scheduling, however, presents an interesting challenge. The 126th U.S. Open is set to commence on Thursday—the exact day the city plans to host the Knicks’ championship parade. While the team will be tied up with victory laps and fan festivities in Manhattan, the USGA has clarified that the offer remains open for the days following the parade. Whether Hart and "the boys" make it to Southampton before the final putts drop remains to be seen, but the intent to bridge the gap between two very different worlds of epics sports is clear.

Why it matters

This intersection of basketball culture and professional golf speaks to a broader trend in how major sports properties manage their brand influence. By folding a high-profile, newly-minted champion into the narrative of a major golf tournament, the USGA is effectively broadening its reach beyond the traditional fairway audience. For the Knicks, who have finally shattered a half-century of frustration, these public invitations serve as a victory lap that extends well beyond the basketball court. It is a calculated, mutually beneficial recognition of star power that keeps the momentum of their historic season alive.

The road ahead at Shinnecock

Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, one of the five founding clubs of the USGA, is no stranger to hosting legends. As it prepares to hold its sixth U.S. Open, the field is already filling up with the game’s elite, including Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. For a player like Hart, whose defensive tenacity and "glue-guy" contributions were vital to New York's success, a weekend at Shinnecock offers a well-earned reprieve. The championship intensity of the NBA Finals may have concluded, but for the Knicks, the celebration is clearly just getting started, whether on the streets of New York or the greens of Long Island.