Kerr claims US Open will be ‘joke’ with muddy balls

The US Women’s Open will be a “joke” unless tournament officials reverse their decision not to allow preferred lies, according to former champion Cristie Kerr.

Almost six inches of rain has fallen on the course at Shoal Creek in Alabama in the last week, with 2.4 inches coming in a 24-hour period after subtropical storm Alberto’s disintegration into a tropical depression over the Birmingham area on Tuesday.

The course was closed on Tuesday and more rain is forecast, but the USGA appears intent on not allowing the players to lift, clean and replace balls without penalty if they picks up mud on the saturated fairways.

“It is our intention to play 72 holes to identify our champion, and play the ball as it lies,” said John Bodenhamer, the USGA’S head of championships and governance.

That did not go down well with 2007 champion Kerr, who said in quotes reported by the Golf Channel: “If they play it down, it’s a joke. The course is saturated beyond comprehension. I know they run a lot of championships, but how many have they run after a tropical storm?

“The course is unplayable. There’s going to be mud on every ball. It’s not fair. Tropical storms aren’t part of the game.” Two-time champion Inbee Park says the conditions are the wettest she has ever seen in the event, adding: “Coming in to the US Women’s Open, I always try to play the ball with the mud or try to play with a wet ground condition because we’ve never played lift, clean and place. We just play from wherever it is and however the condition is. I really didn’t expect to play lift, clean and place this week.

“I’m obviously not the longest hitter on the tour, so this course is going to play a little bit tougher on me. [But] accuracy is going to be the key on the second shot. It does come down to really the short game and who holes many putts.”

North Berwick’s Catriona Matthew flies the flag for Scotland in the event.