'Paranoid' pros told to stop moaning about Wentworth changes

A number of leading players were still moaning as they left the Surrey venue after the final round, with Rory McIlroy saying he'd be "glad to get back playing a decent golf course" as he looked forward to his next event in, the Memorial tournament in America.

Ernie Els, who carried out the redesign, reiterated his disappointment at such comments and Gallacher, the former Wentworth professional, admitted he had sympathy for the South African, as well as Wentworth's owner, Richard Caring.

"I was slightly disappointed with the vitriol from some of the better players as they've been trying to give them what they want," said Gallacher. "Due to the fact the event is played early in the season, the putting surfaces were a problem because of the type of the grass (the reason the likes of Padraig Harrington and Ian Poulter had stayed away until this year) and therefore had to be changed.

"In addition to that, of course, further changes were made and because Wentworth has such history attached to it any change was always going to create some controversy. However, Richard Caring was quick to put his hand up and say that if things need to be tweaked going forward he'll look at that.

"The 18th, for instance, might need a tweak and maybe the eighth as well but the problem with modern-day professionals is that they think a par 5 should be reachable in two shots and, with the small green at the 18th, that was a problem for them at Wentworth. That green is meant for wedge shots in. In my era par 5s took three shots to hit the green, but today they become paranoid if they can't blast a drive and then hit the green with a 4-iron at a par-5, giving them two putts for their birdie.

"Richard Caring has said he'll take on board some of the comments, but Robert Karlsson shot 62 on the Saturday and Simon Khan and Lee Westwood both shot 66 on the Sunday, so that showed what can still be done despite all the moaning."

According to Els, Caring, who spent 6.5 million on the changes, had been "kicked in the teeth" by the players. "If they had criticisms they could've handled it differently. That's the sad part of the whole week, a lot of the guys I've known for a very long time came out and basically put the knife in and I don't really appreciate that," said Els.

"There is going to be criticism with any new design but I really wasn't expecting the backlash I got. I don't think anybody deserved it. If the people who made all those comments, especially the players, look back at what they said and what they achieved this week, it was all negative. The tour doesn't need it, the club doesn't need it, the owner who has put all this money in doesn't need it, I don't need it."