Mickelson slams monster hole
Source: AFP |
June 15, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
US golf officials on Wednesday defended their decision to set up the longest hole in US Open history for the 112th edition of the tournament this week.
The par-5 16th at San Francisco's Olympic Club has been stretched by 61 yards to a monster 670 yards, the difficulty of the length compounded by a sharp dogleg left and a fairway that begins to narrow past 300 yards. The change is one of several that have been made to the course since the US Open was last held here in 1998 and several players have been critical, notably five-time US Open runner-up Phil Mickelson.
Asked to elaborate on criticism of the 16th during a news conference on Tuesday, Mickelson said: "It's for sure the hardest hole on the course - and maybe the worst."
"I think great holes provide different strategy and different options," Mickelson continued. "With the tee back on 16, it eliminates any options. I would never say it's unfair. I just wouldn't say it's a good hole."
US Golf Association Executive Director Mike Davis said he had to "respectfully disagree with that position." "I think what we were trying to do, and I think we have succeeded, is that we really wanted to make a true three-shot par five," he said.
"And I know that par fives are supposed to be when an expert player hits three shots and then the third is on the green and they two-putt and I know that there's a mentality that every par five ought to be reachable in two. But we wanted for two days to make it a true three-shotter, where if you miss one shot you might not be able to catch up on it."
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