Open chairman accepts criticism

The chairman of the United States Open championship committee has admitted a mistake was made on the hole which Ernie Els described as “ridiculous” and “unplayable”.

Only one birdie was achieved at the 189-yard seventh in the third round at Shinnecock Hills yesterday and of the last 22 players in the field just three were on the green after their tee shots.

One of those, Shigeki Maruyama, then putted off the green, while Phil Mickelson, sharing the lead with him at the time, double-bogeyed the hole after an eight-foot par putt trickled 15 feet past the cup.

Following the round event chairman Walter Driver gave a press conference and stated: “We had given instructions to stop rolling the green as of Tuesday, but I found out after play was completed that for some reason it was rolled today.

“I do not know how much difference that made, but the instructions were not to roll it. A member of the groundstaff did it inadvertently – it will not happen tomorrow.”

In fact, the staff met on the hole at 8am prior to the final round to assess the green and the pin location.

Driver added: “The hole is designed to play into the wind or slightly left to right.

“The wind changed and it was therefore blowing straight across and down the hill. I think that had a lot to do with the scores.”

Els, who bogeyed it, commented: “The majority of the field is going to make four, which is ridiculous.

“I’m a fan of Redans (the style of hole), but it’s got to play in a certain way. The green has to be a little bit more receptive.

“Where they put the flag you had no chance. They didn’t set it up the way the hole is designed.”

There was similar criticism of the 18th hole at the Olympic Club in San Francisco six years ago, but when asked if the public might have a perception of the US Open having a “goofy” element to it Driver responded: “Absolutely not - and I think if they get that impression that’s a gross misdeed on what is one of the best golf courses in the United States.

“The players have been very positive the whole way. I think you’ve got to take into consideration they’ve played 54 holes and we’ve got rave comments on 53 of them.”

Not from everybody. Lee Westwood said of the short 17th after his “great” tee shot in the third round kicked off the green: “If it’s an exam paper they’re asking you a question that there’s no answer to.

“It’s playing downwind and the flag’s cut on a downslope.”