Rory: Courses in Europe are too easy
RORY McIlroy slammed the European Tour after the final round at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on Sunday, saying courses were often too easy to properly test the world’s best players.
McIlroy’s frustration boiled over after he shot 15 under par in the pro-am tournament played on three great Scottish links, the St Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.
Despite his impressive score, the Northern Irishman finished back in the pack in a tie for 26th.
“I’m sort of honestly sick of coming back over to the European Tour and shooting 15 under par and finishing 30th,” the world number two told reporters. “I don’t think the courses are set up hard enough. There’s no penalties for bad shots. It’s tough when you come back when it’s like that. I don’t feel like good golf is regarded as well as it could be.”
McIlroy was previously disappointed by the set up at the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick in July. He shot 13 under par that week and finished equal 34th. “It’s not a good test,” he said. Wind is usually the best defence for links courses, but both tournaments were played in fairly calm conditions.
It remains to be seen whether McIlroy’s latest frustration affects his European Tour schedule.
He almost quit the tour this year to focus solely on the US-based PGA Tour, but subsequently decided to play enough tournaments to maintain his membership and remain eligible for Ryder Cup selection. McIlroy has played five times in Europe this year, including the Open Championship.
“I think if the European Tour want to put forth a really good product, the golf courses and set-ups need to be tougher,” said the four-time major champion.
Meanwhile, Californian Cameron Champ survived a late scare before sinking a four-foot birdie putt at the final hole for an emotional win at the Safeway Open in northern California on Sunday.
Champ, playing for his gravely ill grandfather who is stricken with advanced stomach cancer, almost blew it on the home stretch, before regrouping on the final hole. The 24-year-old said he felt a strange sense of calm as he stood over the putt for victory.
“That putt, it was the first time I didn’t really feel that nervous,” a tearful Champ said after hugging his father and briefly speaking to his grandfather by phone on the 18th green.
“I don’t know if it’s meant to be or whatnot, but to win here, no matter whether I win one more tournament, 10 more tournaments, this will be the greatest moment of my golfing career for sure. It means everything. Going through this experience has opened my mind up to a lot of things.”
Champ, until now best known as the longest driver on the PGA Tour, carded a closing 3-under-par 69 at Silverado Resort in California wine country.
He finished at 17-under 271 for his second PGA Tour victory in 34 starts, one shot ahead of Canadian Adam Hadwin.
Hadwin almost spoiled the script, erasing a three-shot deficit in the final two holes.
He rolled in a 15-foot birdie at the 17th and then a four-footer for another birdie at the par-5 18th for a 67.
Champ, who had bogeyed the par-4 17th after misjudging his short approach shot, suddenly found himself standing on the 18th fairway tied for the lead after a 370-yard drive.
But he missed the green with his eight-iron second shot and was in serious danger of falling into a playoff until a deft chip set the stage for the winning putt, which he stroked in dead centre.
Champ, who hails from nearby Sacramento, started the round with a three-shot lead over a trio including Hadwin.
A six-foot birdie at the first hole settled Champ’s nerves, at least until the last couple of holes.