'Players have been too quick to criticise changes to Wentworth'

AS MIGUEL Angel Jimenez became the latest player to add his voice to a chorus of criticism about the course changes at Wentworth, Colin Montgomerie has accused some of his fellow professionals of only moaning when they've played badly and believes they need to adapt better to different challenges.

Jimenez compared the redesign to scrawling a line across a Picasso masterpiece as he joined the likes of Paul Casey and Lee Westwood in criticising the changes made to the West Course by Ernie Els on behalf of Richard Caring, the Wentworth owner.

"I think the criticism of the golf course was unfounded," said Montgomerie, a four-time Wentworth winner between the PGA Championship and World Match Play. "It was a modern test of golf and a much better test of golf than it was before. I think they've done a great job, putting the level of investment in that all golf courses need. I think some players are too quick to criticise.

"The criticism usually comes from people who have made mistakes and played badly. I don't think (BMW PGA Championship winner] Simon Khan was complaining about the golf course nor Stephen Gallacher and Paul Lawrie after their great finishes."

A renowned course designer himself, having put his stamp on layouts all over the world, the Scot added: "It is very rare that someone comes off after a 66 and starts complaining about the course yet everyone can do so if they wish.

"Every course is different. We have to adapt to the conditions given to us because greens might be slower on one and faster on another. They also might have different grasses. We can't have the same grasses here that we have in Dubai. We can't have the same grasses at Valderrama as we do in Germany so we have to adapt – that's the whole process of professional golf."

Speaking in Spain, where he is playing in this week's Madrid Masters, Jimenez, drawing an imaginary line in the air with a finger, said: "If you had a Picasso in a frame would you say 'Now I want to see a line there'.

"You cannot touch a masterpiece and it's the same with a golf course. It's like if you have an historic building. You cannot touch it without permission."

The Spaniard, who has been visiting Wentworth for more than 20 years, added: "It's a completely different golf course now. You need to hit everything down the middle and the bunkers are too deep. If you are in there you cannot hit any shot to the green. It's not fun any more."