The PGA Tour was rocked by controversy as a prominent player slams the Houston Open golf course, highlighting major flaws that could impact players’ performance on the course. The Texas Children’s Houston Open recently concluded with Min Woo Lee clinching his maiden PGA Tour title, overshadowed by scathing criticism from professional golfer Michael Kim.
Kim, who finished tied for 32nd in the tournament, did not hold back in his assessment of the Memorial Park setup, identifying significant issues with the course layout. He pointed out that the course was too open off the tee, providing little challenge for players, and criticized the greens for being too receptive, failing to offer a true test for the competitors gearing up for The Masters.
In a bold statement, Kim expressed his dissatisfaction with the course setup, stating, “The greens are way too soft… and there’s so much room off the tee sometimes. I kinda got confused when I heard people say this course suits Rory. This place anyone can hit driver.”
Joining Kim in his critique was top-ranked player Rory McIlroy, who also emphasized the need for more punishment for errant shots off the tee. Despite his own success at the tournament, McIlroy highlighted the lack of penalties for missing fairways, suggesting that the course could be improved by introducing more challenges for wayward drives.
McIlroy’s powerful drives averaging over 315 yards throughout the week did not exempt him from acknowledging the shortcomings of the course, as he emphasized the importance of a more demanding layout to better prepare players for elite competitions like The Masters.
The feedback from Kim and McIlroy has ignited a debate within the golfing community, raising questions about the suitability of the Houston Open course for top-tier tournaments. As players gear up for future competitions, including the highly anticipated Masters, the criticism of the Houston Open course could have a lasting impact on the PGA Tour’s approach to course design and setup.