Westwood: no birdies
Lee Westwood was critical of the Oakland Hills set-up after he struggled to an opening seven-over-par 77 on the first day of the USPGA.
Westwood was strongly fancied coming into the final major of the year after his third place at the US Open in June and his tie for second at last week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
But the Englishman - who starred in Europe's Ryder Cup win on this course four years ago - endured a nightmare opening day, failing to make a birdie and having five bogeys and a double bogey.
"I was happy to break 80 after being seven over after 12 holes," Westwood said. "Standing on the 17th tee I asked my caddie if he could hear the sea as well, as I am sure I could hear my holiday calling. But I dug in there.
Narrow
"I didn't do a lot wrong. The fairways are narrow and unfortunately if you miss the semi rough by a foot you are worse off than if you miss by 20 yards, which you need to take different people's opinions on as to whether that is fair.
"You have to reward the accurate players like they did at the US Open. If you miss by a shot you have half a shot.
"I had a shot on the fourth, hit a driver and because the fairways are firming up, ran through the fairway a foot into the rough and I couldn't even get a lob wedge to the green and I only had 95 yards to the front."
Westwood was particularly annoyed by the decision to brush back the rough on each hole overnight in the direction of the tees.
"That's the sort of thing you are battling against out there. It is a difficult course anyway with the greens and the pin positions to protect it," he added.
"I am not sure you need rough as long as it is and you certainly don't need to sweep it back towards the tee the night before the tournament when we have played it as it is in the practice rounds.
Irritate
"I can't recall it happening before and can't think of a reason why they would do it other than to irritate the players as that is all it does.
"Especially when you play practice rounds as it is. It is five inches long, why brush it back at us? It makes no sense to me. People want to see birdies and they have not seen me make any."
Westwood admitted his views may be seen as sour grapes but insisted: "I think the US Open was set up perfectly. It rewards accuracy and penalises you if you are off line. I didn't see that today.
"I asked my partners if I was out of order and they said 'no, if you are slightly off line you are crucified'.
"In my opinion it is too thick around the greens as well. It takes the skill away from chipping. You don't need it.
"The course is 7,500 yards long, the greens are firm, and the pins are tucked away. They are sucking the fun out of the major championships when you set it up like that."
