Carnoustie vows 'no more Carnasty'

The man many hold responsible for creating the hardest Open Championship in history yesterday accused the professionals who criticised him of "whinging", but at the same time assured them that July's return to Carnoustie will be nowhere near as brutal. Apparently, the Angus links of 2007 will be "Carnicey" compared to the notorious "Carnasty" of 1999.

Speaking at the Royal and Ancient's annual press conference, John Philp, the head greenkeeper of the course 10 miles east of Dundee, allayed fears that the rough would resemble the impenetrable jungle that effected the highest winning total in a major for almost 40 years. "It will be easier, no doubt about it," he said. "We know the rough won't be as severe and if it does not blow then we could see eight- or even 10-under par."

That would be some turnaround from Paul Lawrie's mark of seven-over eight years ago, when the majority of proud pros were reduced to frustrated-hacker status, although Philp was keen to stress that the blame did not lie at his door or that of his staff or, indeed, the R&A. He denied the long-held suspicion that he fertilised the knee-high rough, calling that charge "complete baloney" and asserted that it was the fault of the freakish wet and warm weather of May and June that year.

"It happened at courses all over Scotland," he said. "At Muirfield, for instance, the rough was even more severe. People always jump to conclusions if they don't understand something. We weren't too fussed [about all the criticisms], to be honest, but yes, there was a great deal of whinging, even from some of the players."

One in particular, Davis Love III, was quite vitriolic in his remarks, pointing at the unlikely Scottish victor and announcing, "Carnoustie has got the champion it deserves". "Well, that's a load of crap," responded Philp yesterday, albeit almost a decade late. "That's just sour grapes."

Nevertheless, a number of the players' concerns were taken on board by the R&A, which, Philp confessed, has been keeping a closer eye on the links this time around than it did in 1999. While announcing the minimal alterations to the highly rated layout (it has been extended by 60 yards and at 7,421 will be the longest course in the Open's history), Peter Dawson, the governing body's chief executive, emphasised that it is not the intention to embarrass the competitors. "We are not seeking carnage," he said. "We are seeking an arena where the players can display their skills to the best effect."

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