How did USGA get it so wrong on a savage Saturday at the US Open?
By Keith Jackson
Last Updated: 17/06/18 9:40pm
The USGA admitted the course set-up for the third round of the US Open was "too tough" for the afternoon starters, and Luke Donald believes the best players in the world were humiliated.
Ahead of the final round at Shinnecock Hills, Donald and Butch Harmon joined David Livingstone to reflect on the fallout from a "savage Saturday" which left several in the field furious with how the course was set up.
The choice of pin positions on several holes, particularly the 15th, were heavily criticised as the likes of Ian Poulter, Henrik Stenson and Scott Piercy were among many who simply could not keep their ball on the green.
USGA executive director Mike Davis admitted the day became "a tale of two golf courses" as the firm and fast conditions combined with a stronger-than-expected breeze to hamper the players who were in the top half of the leaderboard after 36 holes.
Donald claimed the course was "out of control" on certain holes and said the USGA were guilty of unnecessarily manipulating pin positions which crossed the line of playability, while Harmon compared some of the scenes to "goofy golf by the beach".
Harmon also questioned why the USGA struggle to learn the lessons of previous incidents, while the R&A always impress with the way they set up courses for the Open Championship.
Daniel Berger and Tony Finau began the day in a tie for 45th place on seven-over par, but both fired 66s to be in a share of the 54-hole lead as the final-five pairs of the day were a combined 57 over for the round.
Do you agree with the views of Luke and Butch? And why did the USGA not learn from the mistakes of 2004? Watch the team discuss the controversy above ...
