Australian Adam Scott has fired a broadside at the USGA in the lead-up to next week's US Open.
Scott, who'll tee up in his 16th consecutive US Open at Erin Hills, told Golfweek's Jeff Babineau that he'd grown tired of "brutal" course set-ups at the year's second major championship.
Though the USGA maintains it has no "target score" in mind, the popular belief on tour is that the body's obsession with finding a winner around even par dominates the set-up process.
Scott is a firm subscriber to that view, particularly with an eye on the sport more generally.
"Maybe it’s time to do away with the even-par target, just thinking about the bigger picture of the game of golf," the world No.12 said.
"If their major pinnacle event for them requires courses to be the way they are, it doesn’t set a good example for every other bit of golf that they try to promote. Maybe we should get the numbers out of our heads and try a new strategy."
The 2011 US Open was won by Rory McIroy who shot 16-under-par 268 at a rain-soaked Congressional, but in the past 10 Opens excluding that year, the average winning score is one under.
After controversial greens at Chambers Bay in 2015 and a major rules controversy around eventual champion Dustin Johnson at Oakmont last year, Scott said the USGA needed to produce an event remebered for golf, not set-up matters.
"They’ve taken criticism for the last two years, I’m sure they’re not liking it. They’re going to have to try to run a really good event," the Queenslander said.
"The ball is in their court; they control it all. Hopefully they get it right this time, just from a playability standpoint.
"Let’s just have something that’s a challenge and interesting, not just playing brutal (golf)."
Scott headed to Wisconsin for two days practice after the weekend's Memorial Tournament, but will play in Memphis at this weekend's St.Jude Classic before returning north for the Open.