‘Man up and get on with it!' – Scots golf legend in astonishing blast at players moaning about US Open rough conditions
COLIN MONTGOMERIE has told the elite golfers who are unimpressed with the tough conditions at the US Open this week to "man up".
Oakmont is playing host to the third major of the golf season this week and the rough in particular is brutal.
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The rough at Oakmont will make things extremely tough st the US Open
Credit: Getty
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Colin Montgomerie had a few choice words for unhappy golfers at the event
Credit: Getty
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The rough is being kept to a uniform five inches by an army of lawnmowers
Credit: Getty
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Tyrrell Hatton takes a shot from the rough during a practice round
Credit: EPA
It was measured at around five inches deep but the United States Golf Association (USGA) trimmed it down after a series of complaints from the game's top players.
The Pennsylvania track is renowned for its difficulty even under normal circumstances - with a reputation as perhaps the hardest golf course in the world - with narrow and sometimes sloping fairways, a litany of penal bunkers and tricky and undulating greens (with a few blind approaches).
But things have been ramped up for the US Open, with the greens running even quicker and the rough allowed to grow thicker than usual.
An army of lawnmowers have been sent out to keep the rough in check as star players opined that the average amateur golfer wouldn't even FINISH their round.
Recent Masters winner Rory McIlroy revealed he shot an 81 (11 over par) in practice, two-time US Open champ Bryson DeChambeau called it "the hardest course you can play right now" and Jhonattan Vegas, who led the PGA Championship last month, went as far as to call the rough "unplayable".
But Monty is having none of it.
A three-time US Open runner-up - including one at Oakmont in 1994 - Montgomerie said players these days have no excuse for missing the fairways and landing in the suped-up rough.
He pointed to improvements in equipment compared to his day and said only harsh winds would be a valid reason for errant shots.
Speaking at at Trump International Golf Links, ahead of the Staysure PGA Seniors Championship, Montgomerie, 61, said: 'I was disappointed at the USGA having to cut the rough a wee bit because it was too severe.
'[Compare] technology now from 30 years ago.
US Open release incredible video of army of lawnmowers to tackle rough as stars brand conditions 'unplayable'
'The golf ball that we were playing with 30 years ago moved around all over the place. It was soft, it went 20 yards shorter.
'Now, the golf club development, the drivers, the irons, the putters, look at the putters now, the development in the putters.
'So, get on with it. For Christ's sake, you've got technology there that is beyond what you would ever, ever dream of.
'Use it and play golf. I mean, at this level, you shouldn't be missing any fairways, unless it's blowing a gale.
'The research and development that's been poured into the game, man up. Yeah, get on with it.'
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