Phil Mickelson has been known to be highly critical of golf courses, but on this occasion his critique of a major championship venue was in support of amateur golfers.
Prior to the 2022 Olympics, Phil Mickelson said Le Golf National was unplayable when he played there for the 2018 Ryder Cup. The six-time major winner was critical of the rough at Oakmont for the 2025 US Open, and he slammed pin positions at Muirfield at the 2013 Open Championship.
The American is always outspoken and has strong opinions on the state of golf, and the direction he wants the sport to go in. That was partly what inspired Mickelson’s move to LIV Golf.
And he made his thoughts known, loud and clear, before the 2011 PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club, where he said part of the course’s design was part of what was “killing the game”.
What Phil Mickelson said was ‘killing the game’ for amateurs in modern golf
Mickelson was furious at the long par three at AAC, saying that long holes designed for professionals are leaving amateur golfers behind.
He said, “It’s a perfect example of how modern architecture is killing the game, because these holes are unplayable for the member. You have water in front and you have a bunker behind, and you give the player no avenue to run a shot up.
“Modern architecture, there are some great ones, but the guy that redid this one—you know, it’s great for the championship, but it’s not great for the membership.”
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Those words still ring true today. As courses attempt to keep up with golfers driving the ball 350 yards, it’s becoming more and more challenging to ensure a course is playable for both pros and amateurs.
Even the Old Course at St. Andrews is undergoing a redesign, as the Home of Golf seeks to lengthen it for The Open Championship. But that only makes the course less accessible to those looking to play there year-round.
But we don’t want to see players shooting 30-under par at major championships, so is the problem the courses, or the advancement of technology allowing players to hit it too far?
Longest par threes in majors
Oakmont Country Club was a part of a heated discussion at the US Open this year, not only because of its long rough, but because of its monster 301-yard par three eighth hole.
Collin Morikawa called it “ridiculous”, and Viktor Hovland called it “silly”. It was undoubtedly a tall task for the pros, and nearly impossible for amateurs to par.
It was the longest par three in major championship history, beating the seventh hole at Los Angeles Country Club, which measured at 299 yards. There’s also a par three on that course which measures at 297, making for two par threes where players may have to hit driver.
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The third hole at Merion is one of the longest par threes in major history. That measured at 266 yards in 2013. Meanwhile, the second at Shinnecock Hills was 264 yards in 2018.
And while it isn’t as long as the eighth at Oakmont, the 16th at Carnoustie does feel like one of the longest in the world. It was 248 yards in 2018, the longest par three in Open Championship history, but the windy conditions mean it plays far longer than its yardage.
And Mickelson would hate all of these holes, as he wants amateurs to be able to grow the game from the ground up.
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