Major championship golf courses should be tough. The PGA of America got it right

Another major, another bunch of grumpy golfers. Surprise, surprise! Nothing new there then.

It had been widely predicted that the world’s best players were going to reduce Aronimink to its knees, that we would see a winning score of 20 under par.

It didn’t happen. The PGA of America rightly decided that their major championship, the US PGA Championship, should provide a proper test.

And many top golfers were found wanting. It made Bryson DeChambeau look stupid. Will he never learn that you can’t keep trying to bully golf courses into submission? 

Tyrrell Hatton’s patience was tested to the limit and he wasn’t up to the job.

Rory McIlroy had said that if he could hit his driver far enough then it wouldn’t matter where the ball finished up. That didn’t work out too well for him in the opening round, did it? He reined it in during round two and was rewarded with a bogey-free 67.

Scottie Scheffler, the best golfer on the planet and the defending champion, lambasted the pin positions on a day when Chris Gotterup reduced the course to 65 blows.

(Image Credit: Rolex/Tom Lovelock)

The putting surfaces have always been considered as Aronimink's best defence and the placement of the holes - particularly given the tricky, windy conditions - were incredibly punishing.

Following his second round, defending champion Scheffler described Friday's pin positions as "absurd".

"They are the hardest I've ever seen," said the 29-year-old American.

"They were just so far into the areas where we thought the pins were going to be. It's just challenging."

It is a major championship Scottie - it’s meant to be challenging. Find fairways, hit your approaches to the correct place and you will be rewarded.

Jack Nicklaus won 18 majors because he knew how to strategise. It’s an art today’s players seem to have lost. Physical power has replaced brain power.

England's Aaron Rai ultimately conquered that test.

And then there was the pace of play, with some taking almost six hours to complete 18 holes. McIlroy was one of many who claimed it affected his focus, while others blamed it on the difficulty of the course.

I once played Carnoustie in a fourball in driving rain and a howling wind. We completed it in a touch under four hours - and had nobody to look for our golf balls.

The problem with today’s stars is that they spend too much time playing target golf. Major championship courses should be tough. I applaud the PGA of America - they got it absolutely right!