US Open backlash as Scottie Scheffler’s group grab headlines – ‘Beyond a joke’ | Golf | Sport
US Open viewers have been spitting feathers about the painful pace of play at this year’s tournament. Scottie Scheffler‘s group shouldered some of the criticism themselves as they took a remarkable 71 minutes just to play three holes on Friday.
The par-five 12th hole has been a particularly grinding experience for players and spectators. Strecthing a whopping 647 yards from tee to flag, getting there in two is a mammoth task, and those players who are keen to take it on have been forced to wait for the green to clear before hitting their second shot.
Scheffler started alongside Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa in one of the standout groups at 7.40am (local time) on Friday. The trio were in the half of the field to begin their rounds on the 10th hole, and well over an hour had passed by the time they finished the 12th, in part due to the staggering 44 minutes they spent on the huge par-five.
Fans watching on were not impressed, with some pointing the finger at the tournament organisers for failing to ensure a smooth pace of play, and others begging the players themselves to pick things up.
Amid a wave of complaints on X, @claretnorris responded to the statistic about Scheffler’s group taking 71 minutes to finish three holes by writing: “That is beyond a joke. Slow play in the PGA needs sorting out.”
Others chimed in, including @BobbyTeeitup, who posted: “That’s garbage. That’s on the USGA set-up. It’s a national championship that you had years to get right. WTF [USGA chief John] Bodenhamer?”
This year’s tournament at Oakmont Country Club has attracted extra attention due to just how difficult the course is. With dramatically sloping fairways, thick and deep rough, fast greens and penal bunkers, many players have had a hard time getting around at their usual pace.
During their preparations for the US Open, the USGA reportedly intended for groups to complete their rounds in approximately four hours and 45 minutes. Scheffler’s group took a full hour longer than that on Friday, leading some to criticise the nature of the course itself.
Among them is @rr1955, who wrote: “It was planned this way, you could argue professional golf needs find other ways to keep scoring like they want. It’s silly having 6-inch rough six inches from green.”
