Defending US Open Champion Expresses Displeasure with Los Angeles Course Design

Is the US Open at Los Angeles Country Club a Hit or Miss?

The 128th edition of the US Open is being held for the first time in history at the ultra-exclusive Los Angeles Country Club, and it has become a hotly debated topic among players and fans alike. The size of crowds and the difficulty of the course have been points of contention during the tournament.

England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, last year’s reigning champion, expressed his disappointment with what he felt was a lackluster turnout from spectators after he hit his third hole-in-one on Friday. He said he wished more people had seen it, adding that there was little to no noise behind the ropes.

Fitzpatrick also criticized some aspects of LA Country Club’s North Course. After completing Saturday’s round, which left him only one stroke ahead of American Brooks Koepka heading into Sunday’s final round, Fitzpatrick commented on how challenging several holes were due to their firmness. He agreed with Koepka about blind tee shots and suggested that some spots are impossible to reach regardless of where you land your shot.

Mixed Reactions

Koepka himself wasn’t too pleased with certain elements of LA Country Club either; he previously stated that he wasn’t a “huge fan” of this course because some areas made it difficult for players to get out clean shots despite good drives.

However, not everyone shares Fitzpatrick’s view – Irish golfer Padraig Harrington praised its “excellent setup” while World No.1 Scottie Scheffler liked playing there “a lot.”

A Record-Setting Opening Round

The opening day saw an unprecedented low-scoring performance by many players – Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both broke the tournament’s all-time low round scoring record within minutes of each other with an eight-under 62.

The first round’s scoring average of 71.38 was the lowest ever recorded in a US Open, sparking debates about what constitutes a “typical” score for such an event renowned for its difficulty and making it clear that LA Country Club is no pushover.