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After opening his US Senior Open title tilt with a two-under 68 to lie two shots off the early pace set by Jerry Kelly, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Rocco Mediate might have been in a chipper mood.

Appears you’d have been wrong.

Instead, the 55-year-old American took the opportunity to go on the attack, criticising the players who hit out at the USGA over the way Shinnecock Hills was set up for the US Open a fortnight ago.

And he really didn’t hold back.

“Truthfully, it’s all been a bunch of bullshit, what I’ve heard, complete horse shit,” he told reporters after his first round at The Broadmoor.

“Here’s the deal, two weeks ago. If you don’t like how it was set up, A, hit better shots; B, don’t come. Don’t come. Someone will take your place. It’s real, real simple. Now you’re getting me mad.

“They’re talking about, well, you just shot ten feet right of the pin, rolled into the bunker. Hit it left of the pin, then, okay? Because everybody’s got to play the golf course.”

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He went on: “Let me ask you this question, too. Remember the one about the golf course changed from the morning? Have you ever played one that didn’t? Of course it’s going to change. That’s what it’s supposed to do. Sometimes it can get softer in the afternoon. Sometimes it gets firmer.”

Mediate had three top ten finishes in 15 US Open appearances, including 2008, where he memorably took Tiger Woods to a play-off at Torrey Pines – Woods’ most recent major victory.

“What I heard [two weeks ago] made me want to throw up, basically,” he added. “Just shut up, play. Because I guarantee you that trophy, that beautiful trophy they give away, this week and two weeks ago, is way worth the crap you have to go through to win it. It is. I haven’t done that yet, but it is. I had this much on it. It was worth the try.”

Do you agree with Rocco?

Is Rocco Mediate right to criticise the players who moaned about the way Shinnecock Hills was set up? Or is he wide of the mark? Leave your thoughts in our Comments section below.


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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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