U.S. Open Merch Pops Thanks to Oakmont’s Squirrel, Viral TikToks

OAKMONT, Pa. — There are more than 400,000 merchandise available at the U.S. Open—and there’s a squirrel on almost everything.

Ironically, the primary logo for the 125th U.S. Open includes a squirrel, since Oakmont Country Club removed most of its trees more than two decades ago. But that hasn’t stopped fans from grabbing up anything with a squirrel on it—shirts, hats, sweaters, cups, mugs, blankets, you name it.

While there are no $250 limited-edition teddy bears, like there are at The Masters, U.S. Open–themed stuffed animals are still widespread throughout the 34,500-square-foot main merch tent. U.S. Open teddy bears cost $26, while their similar-sized squirrel counterparts cost $33—call it the squirrel tax. An Oakmont squirrel headcover is running for $49.

Going Viral

The merch operations are manned by more than 1,100 volunteers and supported by dozens of interns, who have started to go viral on social media as they document their summer experience.

When on-site preparations began last month, two college students started a TikTok account, USGA Merch Interns, that has surpassed 1 million total views. They garnered the attention of six-time PGA Tour winner Tony Finau’s wife, Alayna, who has 142,000 TikTok followers and collaborated on a post with the interns.

“We have a platform working for the USGA,” one of the account’s founders, Penn State junior Ryan Woodley, told Front Office Sports. “So, why not capitalize on it and get a little extra marketing for them?” Woodley said some shoppers have been recognizing him and his fellow cofounder, Widener University senior Alistair Stewart-Smith.

USGA staff approves the TikTok posts but doesn’t have much other involvement. The goal for Woodley and Stewart-Smith would be to pass the account down to next year’s interns. The account is halfway toward being able to be monetized, as TikTok requires accounts to have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, and 10,000 followers (USGA Merch Interns has roughly 1,700).