Former US Open winner Rory McIlroy has warned the USGA not to "overthink" the set-up of Shinnecock Hills when it hosts the second major championship of the year.
With the US Open kicking off on June 14, several players at this week's Memorial tournament said they had recently visited the Long Island, New York course for practice rounds and were confused at its condition.
Several players remarked the fairways were wider than expected for a US Open, and that there were shaved around around the greens - instead of thick greenside rough the typically brutal championship is known for.
Four-time major winner and former world No.1 McIlroy said the USGA were overcomplicating matters.
"See, I think the USGA thinks we're better than we actually are; I think they overthink it," McIlroy said.
"I don't want to single out (USGA executive director) Mike Davis here; I think it's a collective thought process.
"I don't think it should be as much of an exact science to set up a golf course as it is.
"Get the fairways firm, grow the rough, put the pins in some tough but fair locations and let us go and play."
McIlroy, the 2011 US Open winner, also claimed the USGA was perennially guilty of kneejerk reactions to criticism of the previous year's venue.
In 2015, rookie host Chambers Bay was lambasted by US Open contestants for being too obscure in its design and having poor quality greens.
Last year's US Open was also held at a first-time venue - Erin Hills in Wisconsin - when American Brooks Koepka took advantage of enormously wide fairways and soft conditions to win with a 16-under-par total.
"I think it's been a very reactionary for a few years to what happened at Chambers Bay," McIlroy said.
"Erin Hills was going to be similar to Chambers Bay, so they soaked it and made it really wide.
"I think they have to take previous results out of their head and set up a golf course as best they can."
Share
