BY all accounts, the USGA seem about as popular as a Brexit Party rally outside Nicola Sturgeon’s office. The governing body for the United States and Mexico is no stranger to controversy and the revelation the other night that some of the world’s leading players had considered boycotting the US Open a couple of years ago has become the talk of the golfing steamie.
According to reports across the Atlantic, the likes of Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy were among a raft of big names pondering a protest of the major championship that the USGA organise after a series of debacles, debates and dodgy decisions that have caused a sizeable rift between players and officialdom.
Last year’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills, when Phil Mickelson infamously chased after his rolling ball on the green and hit it while it was still moving to highlight the ferociousness of the putting surfaces, was the latest incident in a long line of contentious and farcical episodes that have overshadowed the championship.
The decision and subsequent indecision, meanwhile, of officials at the 2016 event, when the aforementioned Johnson was penalised but wasn’t actually sure what score he was on with just seven holes to play, was something of a tipping point and led to the possibility of a boycott the following year.
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Justin Thomas was one of many players who were vocal in their condemnation of the USGA, a body that at times has made your local amateur dramatics society’s production of My Fair Lady looked positively professional.
Speaking on a conference call at the Renaissance Club in East Lothian yesterday to confirm his debut in this summer’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, Thomas essentially warned the USGA top brass that if they go too far with course set-up or conspire to cause any other form of stooshie at Pebble Beach next month, the players won’t tolerate it.
“I think we’re getting to the point now where, if stuff gets out of control, we don’t feel like we have to hold back any more,” said the former US PGA champion.
“We can kind of say how we feel. I think the last couple years, it’s been good for the game because guys are becoming a little bit more outspoken and honest.
“We never want to come off as complaining or looking bratty. But, at the end of the day, this is what we do and we want to make sure it’s as good as possible and fair.
“I think it’s pretty obvious on where I stand with the US Open and the USGA.
“We’ve had our difficulties over the last six months or whatever it is. But my frustration with them and the set-up of the US Open is because the PGA Tour does such a great job in setting up the golf tournaments the entire year and we feel like the US Open kind of gets away from us and gets out of hand almost every year.
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“For us, we play these amazing golf courses like Shinnecock or Oakmont or Merion or whatever it might be but those golf courses don’t need tricked up.
“They don’t need to be set up any harder than they already are. That’s not really fair or what any of us want. That’s the frustration from our side.”
Another of Thomas’ frustration is his record in the Open on this side of the pond. Two missed cuts in three appearances in the ultimate links test doesn’t sit well with him so the addition of the Scottish Open to his schedule seems like a sensible decision to get himself tuned up.
“I kind of asked myself what can I do to be better prepared for the Open and have a chance to win it this year, because what I’ve done obviously hasn’t worked,” added the world No.6.
“I wanted to try something different.
“I love links golf, but I just haven’t played it very well the past three years so I figured there wasn’t a better way to do it than at least go over there and get acclimatised at the Scottish Open.”
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One player who is a man for all seasons is the all-conquering Brooks Koepka, who won his fourth major a couple of weeks ago at the US PGA Championship. He’s on the kind of hot streak you’d get on a griddle but Thomas knows it can cool off too.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a rousing run himself in 2017 when he won five times, including his first major.
“All the best players in the world go on runs,” said Thomas. “I’m not saying that his is ending or going to end. But I did it in 2017. Jordan [Spieth] did it. Rory did it. It’s just what happens.”
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