Kirk kicks up a storm after final round meltdown

Chris Kirk says USGA should be ashamed of set-up after sextuple bogey on first hole. Picture: Getty

The 18th hole had been expected to play as a long par four yesterday but was set up as a par five for the third time in four rounds, increasing the possibility of a thrilling climax to the year’s second major championship.

Masters champion Jordan Spieth  labelled the 18th “unbelievably stupid’’ when played as a par four on Friday – he took a double-bogey six – and claimed he could play down the first fairway if it was set up that way yesterday.

And there were even stronger words from world No 16 Chris Kirk after he took ten shots to complete the par-four first hole in a closing round of 78 to finish 21 over par and last of the 75 players to make the cut.

Phil Mickelson walks to 18th green during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay. Picture: AP

Kirk, who won the Crowne Plaza Invitational last month, wrote on Twitter: “The U.S. Open is a great tournament with incredible history. The @usga should be ashamed of what they did to it this week.

“My score has nothing to do with why I feel that way, I played poorly. The course wasn’t overly difficult, just tricked up.’’

Having missed the first green to the left, Kirk saw his first five attempts to negotiate a steep slope to the green roll back to his feet – and in one instance through his legs.

Compatriot Billy Horschel appeared to share Kirk’s feelings after missing a short par putt on the sixth, the FedEx Cup winner swinging his putter in a chopping motion towards the green, but stopping short of making contact.

After a final round of three under 67, Horschel admitted that he “lost a little bit of respect for the USGA this week” because of the greens at Chambers Bay, which he said are among “the worst I’ve ever putted on.”

The greens at the site of the US Open are supposed to be fine fescue, but poa annua has crept in, resulting in bumpiness that has irked players all week.

Horschel said: “I’m not going to hold my tongue on this. This is very disappointing to hold a championship-calibre tournament on greens like this.”

Good scores were certainly possible though, with amateurs Nick Hardy and Brian Campbell both shooting 68 and Morgan Hoffmann and Thomas Aiken returning rounds of 66. Hoffmann had not broken par in his previous three rounds and fared much better on the final day as he finished at five-under.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia had climbed into the top 15 thanks to birdies on the first, eighth and ninth to be out in 32, with world No 1 Rory McIlroy also two over par after birdies on the second and seventh.

Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood carded a closing 70 and was left to rue a triple-bogey on the 18th in his second round on Friday.

“I played well today, hit a couple of bad shots on seven and 18 which cost me a couple of sixes but other than that hit a lot of good shots all day,’’ Westwood said.

“I also played well on Friday and was disappointed to finish with a triple and that really wrecked my momentum for the tournament. I was one under coming there and right in it and you just can’t give away three shots in a US Open type format.

“Today it’s very scoreable. They have not gone silly with the flags. Having said that we played early in the day and it will certainly firm up later on, but they have shortened it in certain areas. The 16th is very driveable and [the tee] on 12 is up.

“Eleven, 13 and 15 are three long holes though. I wore my 3-iron out on them three.’’

“It’s the kind of course I’d like to come and play with my mates, with a cart and some beers. It’s been a strange atmosphere. The fans have not been able to follow a player round. From a fans point of view they could watch Phil Mickelson’s tee shot on the first and then you can’t see his next until his second on the second because you can’t get down the first hole.”

Phil Mickelson arrived at the US Open optimistic of his chances of completing the career Grand Slam. He leaves turning his attention to the Open Championship at St Andrews.

Mickelson shot one-under 69 in the opening round, but it was a struggle from there. He fell off the pace with 74 on Friday, and a 7-over 77 on Saturday left him playing early yesterday.

He closed with a 73 to finish at 13 over for the championship.

Mickelson has been the runner-up six times at the US Open. He’ll try to win it again next year when the tournament heads to Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.