US Open :: Chambers Bay blasted

• Players attack the 115th US Open venue
• Horschel: “There’s no fans on No.8, none”
• Player: “It’s actually a tragedy”

Chambers Bay hasn’t been short of its critics this week and that continued well into, and after, the weekend with more attacking of the greens and the course in general.

Gary Player, who was celebrating the 50th anniversary of achieving the career slam at tournament, appeared on Golf Channel on Saturday and launched a verbal tirade at the course, calling it ‘the most unpleasant golf tournament I’ve seen in my life’.

The South African added: “Imagine, this is a public golf course. This is where we try to encourage people to come out and play and get more people to play the game. It’s actually a tragedy.”

And Player received support from players, no less than Ian Poulter, who had been scathing of Chambers Bay in the build-up to the tournament, and he tweeted:

Billy Horschel didn’t hold back in his assessment of the course either after completing his final round with a three-under-par 67 to finish T25 for the tournament.

“I feel like the greens – when you come to a championship tournament, you’re going to find out who the best player is, but when you neglect one of the skills or take away one of the skills from a player. And I understand Jordan is up by the leaderboard and he’s making plenty of putts.”

But all week, he has also been critical of the course layout – and in particular the eighth hole – in terms of fan experience.

“The fans were awesome. I just wish they were closer to us so they would have seen the golf course the way we were and see the shots we were hitting and they would have a closer feeling to us. There’s no fans on No.8, none. I’ve never seen a golf course at any championship ever where there’s no fans on a hole at all.”

Chris Kirk, who opened with a ten on the first en route to an eight-over-par 78, tweeted:

Lee Westwood, speaking to the Daily Mail, said: “There are certain aspects to it that I don’t think are right for a US Open, but I am thinking more from a fans point of view.

“It’s been a strange atmosphere out there because they can’t seem to get close to the action and on some holes there aren’t any.

“The greens being in poor condition is obviously disappointing. It’s the US Open, you want it in pristine condition but sometimes these things are out of your control.”

Earlier in the week, Sergio Garcia had also been critical on Twitter, while Henrik Stenson – who led after the first round – referred to the greens as ‘like putting on broccoli’.

US Open :: Chambers Bay greens

Is the criticism of the greens at Chambers Bay justified? Or is it sour grapes? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.