Phil Takes A Big Rip At Quail's Greens

When Phil Mickelson made a point Saturday afternoon of saying the greens at the Quail Hollow Club are "some of the worst-designed greens" on the PGA Tour, it wasn't a one-off comment.

Mickelson said it on television, to a radio interviewer and to print reporters. He had a point to make and he made sure he made it.

He was still steaming from what was a terrific two-putt at the 18th green. He hit his approach shot 58 feet past the hole but because of the hole location and the slope, Mickelson couldn't try to make the putt. He had to play to the right of the hole and try to make the eight-footer for par. He did but he didn't like it.

Almost to make a point, Mickelson didn't have his caddie, Jim 'Bones' Mackay leave the flagstick in even though he was on the green. He was trying to make the putt.

When asked about what happened on 18, Mickelson used it to air his frustrations.

"For as beautifully designed as this golf course is from tee to gren, the greens are some of the worst-designed greens we have on tour and 18 is one of them," Mickelson said. "I would say 18 is the worst on tour except it's not the worst on this golf course, 12 is, and we have some ridiculous putts here that you just can't keep on (the green).

"But my mistake there was hitting it past the pin. I know that green is ridiculous. I never should have put myself in that position."

For a tournament that gets so much praise -- Mickelson has been among its strongest supporters -- it was an abrupt change to hear such sharp criticism. It may not change anything but it probably made Mickelson feel better to get it out.

And some of his fellow pros are probably glad he said it, too.