‘Diabolical’ Los Angeles venue raises familiar questions about USGA

Brooks Koepka and Matt Fitzpatrick have branded the course diabolical' and poor' with West Coast tee times also an issue

The United States Golf Association has become accustomed to firefighting at its marquee event. US Opens became mired in controversy long ago. From watering greens mid-round at Shinnecock Hills to Dustin Johnson's rules farrago at Oakmont and all manner of complaint about course set-up in between.

This is a major that has carried the whiff of cordite as routine. In the background, the USGA is front and centre of a knotty situation regarding whether or not the distance golf balls fly should be rolled back.