Gary Player highly critical of Chambers Bay as venue for US Open
Last Updated: 20/06/15 9:38pm
Gary Player has launched an astonishing attack on Chambers Bay and described the 155th US Open as "the most unpleasant golf tournament I've seen".
The course design as well as the condition of the greens has come in for fierce criticism over the first two days of the tournament, with many players unable to contain their frustration.
Jordan Spieth labelled the 18th "the dumbest hole I've ever played" after the closing hole was switched from a par-five to a par-four for the second round, while Henrik Stenson compared the greens to "putting on broccoli" following his second-round 74.
Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood were among the others to voice their concerns, but Player did not hold back when asked about his opinion on the layout.
There have never been so many people to miss the cut that are so happy to go home. This is one of the worst golf courses I've seen in my 63 years as a pro
Gary Player
In an interview with the Golf Channel, the nine-time major winner described the Robert Trent Jones Jnr design as a "tragedy", and he believes some of those who missed the cut will be relieved to be going home early.
"We're playing the US Open, this great championship... but this has been the most unpleasant golf tournament I've seen in my life," said the South African. "The man who designed this golf course had to have one leg shorter than the other.
"It is hard to believe that a man can miss the green by one yard and the ball ends up 50 yards down in the rough. This is a public course where we are trying to encourage people to come and play and get more playing the game. They are having a putt from 20 feet and they are allowing 20 feet right and 20 feet left.
Devastating
"You don't bring the US Open to golf courses like this. This is devastating. To see a man miss the green by one yard and end up 50 yards down there, caddies falling and hurting their ankles and knees, players falling ... this is terrible.
"It's actually a tragedy - 7,900 yards long. An average golfer playing this course, a 15 or 16 handicap, he is going to shoot 110 and not go home a very happy man.
"We have to make golf quicker and more enjoyable. We are going about it the wrong way. They are building these crazy courses as a defence against the ball going too far. We have to cut the ball back.
"You have got to give the architect the blame. It's impossible to play these golf courses. Did you see how these pros were three putting one after the other? Sergio (Garcia) three-putted the 18th to make the cut.
"I tell you, there have never been so many people to miss the cut that are so happy to go home."
Player's views were echoed by Stenson, who slipped four shots off the halfway lead after playing his second round in the tougher, afternoon conditions.
"The way we're playing this course in the afternoon compared to the morning, it's borderline laughable at some of the greens and some of the pin positions, when we're actually almost better off plugged in a bunker than being on the top of a ridge, like on the fourth," said the Swede.
"And it's pretty much like putting on broccoli, as well. If you're doing any good in this championship you're playing late in the afternoon and it's going to be more like we had today. So it's obviously good practice for the next couple of days.
"I kind of lost my patience on the eighth more than anything and hit a lovely shot into nine and was putting down on something that looked like the surface of the moon."
Westwood echoed the opinions of Spieth as his main criticism was the altering of par on the first and 18th, adding on Sky Sports 4: "I don't see the reason for jiggling it around. This is the first time I have ever known them change par fours into par fives.
"The 18th is a great par five and the first is a great par four, so today's set-up is how the golf course should be played.
"Most players are too afraid to say what they think. We are living in a PC (politically correct) world and you can't possess an opinion, but if you put a camera in the locker room you would hear a few things you are not hearing in public."
