Adam Scott has urged the United States Golf Association to refrain from dishing up a brutally difficult golf course at next week's US Open.
Speaking after finishing the US PGA Tour's Memorial tournament in Ohio, the world No.10 said the governing body of golf in America setting up US Open venues to be overly penal "doesn't set a good example" for the sport.
Scott was referring to the fact US Open venues are typically prepared with long, thick rough, narrow fairways and lightning-quick greens to prevent low scoring.
Four US Opens within the past 11 years have been won with a 72-hole total worse than par, including consecutive winning scores of five-over in 2006 and 2007.
With this year's US Open starting on June 15 at new venue Erin Hills in Wisconsin, Scott implored the USGA to make the course "challenging and interesting".
"They've taken criticism for the last two years ... maybe it's time to do away with the even-par (72-hole) target," said Scott.
"Let's just have something that's a challenge and interesting, not just playing brutal.
"The ball is in their court. Hopefully they get it right this time, just from a playability standpoint.
"If their major pinnacle event requires courses to be the way they are, it doesn't set a good example."
In March, the USGA and golf's international governing body, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, together proposed a series of rule changes in order to "modernise and make them easier to understand".
It followed the USGA coming under heavy fire for penalising American Dustin Johnson during his 2016 US Open victory.
Although Johnson won by three shots, the USGA was slammed for informing Johnson of the discretion mid-round before it had decided on the actual penalty.
"I think they've really dropped the ball with where the game is at over the last 20 years, and I know their intent is not to do that. I don't question their intent at all," said Scott.
"Their primary role of administering and looking after the game ... whether it's rule changes or any other decisions, I think their process is out."
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