Billy Horschel sorry for losing temper on greens at Chambers Bay
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Updated 22/06/2015 at 15:39 GMT
Billy Horschel has issued a public apology after appearing to slam his putter against a green during the final round of the 115th US Open at Chambers Bay near Seattle.
Billy Horschel has aplogised for losing temper with greens at Chambers Bay.
Image credit: Eurosport
The FedEx Cup holder was one of the most outspoken critics of the host venue for the latest staging of American’s national open, lamenting the greens on the exacting, much-maligned 7,500-7,900 yard course as the worst he has experienced in his career.
“I’ve lost a lot of respect for the USGA,” he said after closing with a three-under par 67 to finish the tournament on seven under par – 12 strokes behind winner Jordan Spieth.
I played out my tail, out my ass, to shoot 3-under par. And I really felt like I should have shot 6-, 7- or 8-under, but I wasn't able to due to the fact that some of the putts I hit just hit some really bad spots on the greens and got off line and didn't go in.
He was not alone with England’s Ryder Cup player Ian Poulter and nine-times Major winner Gary Player also scathing of the USGA for their choice of venue for the season’s second Major golf tournament.
Horschel did not do any damage to the green, but accepted that his actions were unacceptable to his fellow competitors in the field.
He is expecting a heavy fine from the USGA for breaking rank to criticise the set-up around Chambers Bay in Washington State.
I just want to express I’m sorry for the actions on the sixth green yesterday. I did not hit the green with my putter. It is still not acceptable behaviour to do that," Horschel said via an email to the golf show Morning Drive. It’s not the behavior I wish to show the millions of viewers and fans and it’s not the role model I wish to be to so many young golfers in the world today. It is unacceptable and I promise to do better.
Swedish Ryder Cup player Henrik Stenson compared the greens to putting on “broccoli” and Horschel was highly critical of USGA executive director Mike Davis, who he accused of lying about his praise of the course.
"Mike Davis can push back as much as he wants, but when you have a majority of the players commenting publicly...then there's an issue," said Horschel.
There's obviously an issue with these greens, and I don't know if he's just trying to sugarcoat it so it doesn't look bad. I heard someone say that the TV is making the greens look worse than they are. That's a complete lie.
OUR VIEW
Billy Horschel should not be fined or criticised for stating an honest and widespread opinion of a golf course that resembled an experiment gone wrong. Neither should Gary Player, who has seen enough courses around the globe during decades of playing and designing courses to make a well-informed judgement. The course dried up to leave the greens looking more like browns. Some of the greens on the eight-year old course looked less impressive than a public putting green that members of the public play during a trip to the seaside.
Of course, Horschel was wrong to look like he was slamming his putter into the green. Even if he was frustrated, golf is a game of etiquette and showing respect to your fellow competitors. It is just a shame that the USGA did not show the same to Horschel and his fellow professionals with a course that rewards straight drives, iron shots and good putts with true bounces and rolls. And not a game of bingo with clubs as Justin Rose intimated during an arduous four days that hardly boosted the image of golf as a professional sport.
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