Rory McIlroy has called on US Open officials to exercise restraint when setting green speeds for this year’s championship at Shinnecock Hills, warning that pushing them too fast could undermine the integrity of the tournament. The Northern Irishman made a brief stop at the Long Island venue on Monday en route to this week’s Memorial Tournament in Ohio.
Speaking after his reconnaissance round, McIlroy said he hoped the United States Golf Association (USGA) would not allow the greens to become ‘out of hand’. ‘It’s a great golf course, but if the greens get too quick, it becomes a lottery,’ he told reporters. ‘You want a test of skill, not survival.’
Shinnecock Hills has a history of challenging setups. During the 2004 US Open, the greens were criticised for being too severe, with several players complaining that putts would roll off the putting surface. The USGA later admitted the course had been pushed to the limit. McIlroy, a four-time major winner, is keen to avoid a repeat.
The former world number one is using the Memorial Tournament as a tune-up for the third major of the season, which gets underway on 12 June. McIlroy has not won a major since the PGA Championship in 2014, and a solid performance at Muirfield Village would build momentum. He is currently ranked third in the world.
For UK golf fans, McIlroy’s warning carries weight. The US Open is one of the most-watched events on the calendar, and any controversy over course conditions could overshadow the competition. If the greens are too fast, it could favour short-game specialists over power hitters, potentially altering the outcome.
Source: Golfweek