Greg Norman hits back at Gary Player

• Greg Norman tweets back to US Open critic Player
• The South African ranted about the quality of the tournament
• Player also hit out at the Chambers Bay architect

Greg Norman has belatedly hit back at Gary Player’s comments over his coverage for Fox Sports during the US Open, saying he’d be more than happy to the lie detector test the South African requested.

Last Saturday morning, Player unleashed a rant on the failings of Chambers Bay, attacking the course by saying it’s ‘the most unpleasant golf tournament I’ve seen in my life’ before turning his attentions to Norman.

The Aussie was one of few to praise the Pacific Northwest venue while on commentary, hailing the ‘great vantage points’ and getting an alternative view from spectators, with the common opinion that it was tough to walk due to the sheer length and elevation changes.

“100% of everyone was so enthusiastic and over-the-moon” – Greg Norman

“100% of everyone was so enthusiastic and over-the-moon about the US Open Championship being here,” commented Greg Norman.

But Player hit back in his six-minute rant on Golf Channel’s Morning Drive programme, saying: “It’d be a wonderful thing if we could take the announcers that are announcing on this tournament this week and give them a lie detector and see if they’re telling the truth. I’d love to see it.”

And the moment we’ve all been waiting for came yesterday, when Greg Norman responded to Player on Twitter yesterday.

So, will it be arranged? It doesn’t look likely judging by Player’s response.

But Greg Norman isn’t the only person to have been irked by Player’s comments on Saturday morning. Step forward Chambers Bay architect Robert Trent Jones Jr, who it must not be forgotten is a rival to Player in the industry of course design.

“The man who designed this golf course had to have had one leg shorter than the other,” said Player, who has never hosted a major championship at one of his courses. “This is a public golf course. This is where we try and encourage more people to get into the game. It’s actually a tragedy.

CONTINUES BELOW…

When asked if Trent Jones Jr or USGA executive director Davis were to blame, Player said: “I think you’ve got to give the architect the blame. When we first started playing, when old Mr Trent Jones designed the courses, the players used to complain terribly because the greens were so undulating and the bunkers so deep. It’s impossible to play those golf courses.”

But Trent Jones Jr put down the career slam winner in emphatic fashion, saying: “Gary Player was a strong player but is so no longer. He is now an architect. He has not demonstrated an ability to design courses of championship quality.

“It is appropriate that his favourite colour seems to be black because some of his points of view are dark. He and I are competing so I regard his comments as a competitive dissing of my work.”

Cue a host of tweets from Player about how criticism can only make him stronger…

Greg Norman v Player v Trent Jones Jr :: Your thoughts

What are your thoughts on the very public spats between Player and both Greg Norman and Robert Trent Jones Jr? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.