U.S. Open: Robert MacIntyre slams "ridiculous" pin positions at Shinnecock Hills

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre took issue with the "ridiculous" pin positions after the third round of the U.S. Open. 

It has turned out to be another frustrating performance in a major championship for the Oban man. 

The European Ryder Cup star missed cuts at the Masters and PGA Championship earlier this year.

And despite ending the streak at Shinnecock Hills, the 29-year-old failed to make a charge on moving day, carding a three-over 73 to sit on seven-over. 

A frustrated MacIntyre told The Scotsman that it irks him to just be "playing for position" on a Sunday. 

He was more upset, though, with the course setup.

"How long has that taken me to play in two balls?" he said. "Four hours probably 40? That can tell you all you need to know. 

"If we're playing an Open Championship which it starts getting like out here I think some of the pin positions are just to be honest a bit ridiculous."

MacIntyre explained that his biggest issue was the pin on the treacherous par-three 11th, which has claimed several victims this week. 

"[It is]  only a pin position it it's flat calm or calm enough," he said. "I mean it's blowing 30 miles an hour across that green.

"The scoring average on that one hole, par-three, is going to be over four.

"I mean, [we are] some of the best golfers in the world or the best golfers in the world and it's carnage."

MacIntyre said he asked USGA officials if they were going to water the greens ahead of the final round.

"They said they don’t want to but they might have to," he said. 

“I mean my weather forecast was the way it is right now was to be breezy but start dying down. 

"They’ve got to hope it starts dying down or it will be carnage if this place starts getting firm and this wind's up, it's going to get silly."

Asked for his opinion on his own performance this week, MacIntyre said he felt he played well but "just went bananas for the last three or four holes"

"I probably shouldn’t be here today to play the weekend, but here we are," he said. 

"Yeah, you turn what feels like a really good week, where you think, you know what, if I’m level par for the tournament and go out there today and shoot a decent number, I've got something to play for.

"But I was still angry when I went out there today. I get you are still playing for things, but it's just for position now. It was so tough this morning.

"I mean, driver was just going 250 yards off the first hole.

"Were you going to shoot under par? I mean, I'd be shocked if anyone shot under par before me. It's just been carnage."