Moaners should have kept their mouths shut

THE R&A have come in for a lot of flak this week, but any criticism about their set-up of Muirfield has been grossly unfair.

This is one of the best courses in the world and a superb test of golf. We’ve had great crowds, the weather has been just what we wanted, and it all adds up to make this the best championship in the world.

The Open tests every aspect of your game and is the ultimate test. That’s what sets it apart.

Scores have been about right, too. You want a Champion course to deliver the Champion Golfer.

The Masters all comes down to the putting, while at the US Open, they almost trick up the course by narrowing the fairways.

The only thing the R&A got wrong was a couple of pin positions on the opening day, where it was difficult to get the ball near the hole.

They then listened to what the pros said. They watered the greens a bit more than normal and put the pins in slightly easier positions.

But they should make no apology for the way this great links has been set up. Muirfield is in superb condition, playing as a classic firm and fast seaside track. It’s not supposed to be like a water-soaked course in Spain or Florida!

Ian Poulter and Phil Mickelson let themselves down with their complaints on the opening day.

Poulter had let a good round slip and Mickelson had just three-putted the final hole, so they would have been steaming when they came off.

I was in that position as a pro many times, believe me. But I always tried to stay away from the media for half-an-hour or so after a bad round or a bad finish. You need that time to cool off in the locker room.

But Poulter has such a large following on Twitter that he almost feels compelled to post something as soon as he’s off the course.

I admire Phil a lot, but blasting the R&A was unfair and I’m sure, in the cold light of day, he probably regrets those comments.

In a funny way, though, it’s almost a cathartic experience as you’re releasing all your pent-up frustrations. But when the top golfers do this, they come across as spoilt. They’re millionaires playing a great course in wonderful conditions. What is there to complain about?

The weather has evoked memories of ‘The Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977. It’s also the first time for a number of years that I’ve not had to walk the course wearing my raincoat!

No-one can moan about being on the wrong side of the draw. Conditions were almost identical on the first two days with hardly any wind

That has played a big factor in other Opens. I played late and early in terrible weather at Royal St George’s in 1981 with Tom Watson, and did quite well considering. But the wind dropped completely in the afternoon, scores tumbled down and I missed the cut. But that happens at the seaside.

This afternoon, the test for the leaders will be as much mental as physical. You have to concentrate to the maximum on every shot for 18 holes. Players can become drained and that’s when errors creep in.

So, whoever comes out on top will deserve the tag Open Champion.