Players continue to bay at Bay’s greens

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – Chambers Bay let up a bit on the players Sunday, but the players didn’t let up on their criticism of Chambers Bay.

After missing a 7-foot putt, Billy Horschel leaned over and made a few serpentine motions with his right hand, mocking the ball’s unpredictable path. The course’s greens have come under fire from players in the U.S. Open field and Horschel didn’t hold back after shooting 3-under 67.

“I think a lot of players, and I’m one of them, have lost some respect for the USGA and this championship this year for the greens,” Horschel said. “And not only the greens – one of the biggest issues I have is for the fans. Here we are in the Pacific Northwest, where we haven’t been since the late 1990s for the PGA Championship, and the viewing is awful.”

Horschel said he’d talk for an hour if the media wanted to stick around.

“I thought Pebble Beach had unbelievable views. I thought Royal County Down had unbelievable views. They are my top two scenery golf courses, and this one by far beats it,” he said. “Tee to green it’s fair … but it’s just been disappointing with the way the greens are.”

Even Morgan Hoffman, who shot 66, took the greens to task. He had one of four 66s. Adam Scott shot the low round of the tournament with a 6-under 64.

“It’s unfortunate how the greens were this week,” Hoffman said. “I was talking with (USGA executive director) Mike Davis and he said poa annua just crept in a couple weeks prior to us getting here. It’s unfortunate because they didn’t roll very well, especially for a U.S. Open.”

Gary Player ripped Chambers Bay, calling it “one of the worst courses I’ve seen in my 63 years as a pro. The man who designed this course had to have one leg shorter than the other. … You don’t bring it to courses like this.”

Chambers Bay architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. told Sports Illustrated that Player was a ruthless competitor as a player and “at times he can be that way in the design business. We compete for jobs all over the world. I’m open to constructive criticism but to make it personal is something I can’t understand.”

Players have complained about bumpy greens that changed speeds from hole to hole and morning to afternoon. The greens have been running 11.0-11.5 on the Stimpmeter in the morning, 11.5-12.0 in the afternoon. Jones said the greens were designed with slower speeds in mind for regular play.

Rory rises

Rory McIlroy made things interesting on the back nine with birdies at 10, 12 and 13 to move to 2 under, two strokes behind the leaders. He ran out of steam with bogeys on par 3s 15 and 17. He shot 66 and finished at even par (280).

It was another what-if round for McIlroy, who has struggled on the greens.

“The missed (par) putt on 15 for the first bogey, that hurt,” McIlroy said. “And not to birdie 16 from where I put it off the tee and then again a three-putt on 17. Obviously, the last few holes haven’t been kind to me all week. I don’t think I’ve ever hit the ball as well in a major championship.”

Mickelson struggles

Large galleries follow Phil Mickelson whether he’s in the title chase or an also-ran. His quest to complete the career Grand Slam ended with Saturday’s 77. He punctuated his 73 with a whiffed chip from the hay on 18, leading to a double bogey.

As Mickelson reached the tee box on the drivable 16th, fans stacked up behind the ropes near the green. “C’mon Phil, c’mon,” shouted one fan, who had no chance of seeing the drive or where the ball came to rest.

Mickelson made bogey on 17 with a chip that scooted past the cup and stuck on a slight downslope. “Come back,” fans urged unsuccessfully. “Come back!”

Mickelson wasn’t available for comment, but a USGA release quoted Mickelson as saying he enjoyed coming to Washington and appreciated the support of the fans.