Thursday 18 June 2015 14:26, UK
Colin Montgomerie has criticised the condition of the greens at Chambers Bay ahead of the US Open, which gets underway on Thursday.
The 51-year-old Scot will be playing in the tournament for the first time since 2008, having qualified by winning the US Senior Open last year.
Chambers Bay is to host the event for the first time and there are concerns that the links-style Seattle course may prove too demanding a test.
In particular, Montgomerie thinks the greens are sub-standard and warned that may affect the quality of golf on offer.
“The greens themselves, that is the poorest part of this. I don’t want to be critical in any way, because of everything that has been done here,” he told Sky Sports News HQ.
“But the greens are very, very poor. The quality of the surface of the greens is extremely poor. That is going to take away the consistency of the putts.
“The 10-footers that you see people hole all the time, that won’t be happening this week. The greens are extremely poor.
“A course of this demanding nature had to be in perfect condition and unfortunately it is not."
Montgomerie feels that, despite his 'senior' status he stands a good chance at Chambers Bay.
“I am playing as well as I ever have, I am playing as well as I did in the 90s," he added.
“There is nothing different. I was overweight then, I am overweight now so there is no difference! I am actually swinging the club well.
“I am leading the Charles Schwab Cup points list on the senior tour so things can’t be going that badly, having won another Major which is great for the confidence coming in here.
“It is just a matter of trying to get round this course but I speak to 155 other guys as well and we are all a bit anxious about what is going to happen.”
Watch the US Open on Sky Sports 4. Coverage begins on Thursday at 4:30pm.
