Oak Hill is proving a tough nut to crack

A NUMBER of years ago, the then President of the USGA, Sandy Tatum, had a succinct response for the golfers complaining about the severity of a US Open venue.

"We are not trying to embarrass the best players in the world, we are trying to identify them," he said. That might well be the reaction this week to similar claims by today's elite golfers at Oak Hill.

The 7,134 yards, par 70 lay-out with fierce rough, narrow fairways and undulating greens has taken a severe toll and worse is predicted for the next couple of days as the course dries out in the scorching sun.