'Golf's toughest test'. Traditionally, the player who shows the best discipline and mental fortitude will end up on top at the end of the week. It's a given; it will be challenging and brutal, and the greens will undoubtedly give the pros some sleepless nights. But what is also a given is the players getting their hackles up about a golf course that is the most demanding test…

I will say this, gone are the days of absolute mayhem. Over the past decade, only once has the winning score been worse than par, when Brooks Koepka carded one-over-par at Shinnecock Hills. And the way the pros carried on about the infamous New York loop was comical. I mean, who can forget Phil Mickelson running after his ball on the 13th and putting it while it was still rolling.

"I don't mean disrespect by anybody; I know it's a two-shot penalty, and at that time, I just didn't feel like going back and forth and hitting the same shot over, so I took the two-shot penalty. Moving on, it's my understanding of the rules. I've had multiple times where I've wanted to do that, I just finally did," 'Lefty' said about the incident after signing for an 81.

 

 

Pinehurst won't be Shinnecock, and if the winning score is any worse than five-under-par, this writer would be surprised. But still, players love to make their feelings known, almost like a subconscious ploy to force the USGA's hand into easing off.

These guys use balls that sail into oblivion and driver heads with ultimate forgiveness; they are happy to take, take, take. But throw them some curveballs in the form of green complexes that might be stern – but not unfair – the pampered pros are not happy.

And it is a snowball effect. Defending champion Wyndham Clark – who won at LACC with a score of 10-under – came out with a subtle swipe towards the greens.

"Yeah, I mean, they are extremely fast. If they get any firmer and faster, the greens, I mean, they'd be borderline. They already are borderline," Clark said.

Defending champion Wyndham Clark says the greens at Pinehurst are already "borderline". PHOTO: Getty Images.

The tournament hasn't even started yet, and yes, I know it isn't the most enormous swipe of all time, but it is still a dig.

Viktor Hovland followed suit with some comments about the greens.

"Not to throw my caddie under the bus, but if he's putting the pins in the right locations where the pins were last time, then there are just multiple spots where hitting a putt to a disc, I miss it maybe a foot low side, with just a hair too much speed, the ball is off the green," Hovland said at his Tuesday presser.

"So, I don't really know where they're going to end up putting the pins. But if they were, in my opinion, borderline yesterday when the greens were soft, what if it starts blowing up a little bit, and the greens just keep getting firmer and faster. It'll be just interesting to see."

So 'borderline' is clearly the word of the week. I would only describe these comments as borderline complaints, at this stage. They are more a warning than anything.

There should be no buy-in from the tournament organisers. Jack Nicklaus would famously listen to other players complain about the set-up and simply think, 'That's one less player I have to beat'.

This event has identified as the hardest event on the calendar. It should be that way. But chaos and carnage at a U.S Open is a thing of the past. As much as this scribbler would like to see them leave the sprinklers off and make it as hectic as possible, that simply will not happen.

Pinehurst will be challenging, but the course won't get away from the players. It won't cross a line. Most importantly, it will be the same for everyone; play what is in front of you. Do the talking with the golf clubs and get on with it.