Saturday at Southern Hills was a tough day for all, but the frustration certainly got the better of Patton Kizzire, who slammed the course after a round of 78.

• Related: ‘Pretty warped stuff’ – Announcer blasts leader’s drop at PGA Championship

Taking to Instagram stories, Kizzire bluntly said: “Pitiful golf on a pitiful setup on an overrated golf course.”

 

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To the 36-year-old’s credit, Kizzire walked back the comment by taking to the GolfWRX Instagram page to describe his outburst as “Not my best take ever. I played like s–t”.

Kizzire isn’t the only man to be critical of the course this week, with Tyrrell Hatton another to voice his frustrations. Earlier this week, the Englishman hit out at the state of the greens, saying:

“I mean, we’re playing a Major championship, not a monthly medal,” Hatton said. “You know, they’re bobbling all over the place. It’s so hard to hole putts. So you can hit a great putt and they just don’t look like going in, which is hard to accept when we’re playing in a Major championship.

That makes it the second major championship in succession that Hatton has aired his frustrations with the course after calling Augusta National “unfair” following the 2022 Masters tournament.

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Mito Pereira leads the 2022 PGA Championship through Saturday afternoon, but a free drop has been a source of controversy amongst announcers and fans.

On the ninth hole, Pereira hit a tee shot that drifted left into the rough area of the crosswalk, which fans traverse through for the event.

The Chilean was granted a free drop, which allowed him to drop in the fairway, and it’s fair to say not everyone was pleased with the ruling.

On Sky Sports, on-course announcer Wayne Riley described the decision as “pretty warped stuff”, with the Aussie saying on air:

“I can’t believe this drop. Where that ball is, he’s got to keep the flag in line. He’s not going backwards. That, to me is quite amazing..to be able to get it onto the fairway. That’s pretty warped stuff.”

Fellow commentator and winner on the European Tour, Nick Dougherty, declared the decision as a “monumental break”, and the reaction on Twitter was even more stinging:

This is Rose hitting from the same spot that Pereira got a drop from?? @ByTheMinGolf https://t.co/iX8wnsIs8q

— Richard Keane (@ke4no) May 21, 2022

The 27-year-old was granted relief under a local rule allowing players free relief plus an additional club length from “abnormal course conditions.”

Riley went on to say the ruling was “just one of those”, while Pereira went on to make bogey on the hole.

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As far as bad breaks go at the PGA Championship this week, Richard Bland can safely say he suffered the worst.

• Related: ‘I didn’t recognize him at first’ – Mickelson’s mother says ‘relaxed’ Lefty has a surprising new look

The Englishman may not have been threatening to make the cut at Southern Hills, but he certainly wasn’t helped by lady luck after an unruly squirrel caused him to make a bogey on Friday.

A fan-taken video of the incident was given some context from Bland on Twitter, who explained:

“You know it’s not going to be your week when you play a good recovery shot from under the trees & this little fella gets in the way. To top it off. The ball rolls back off the green and don’t get up & down.”

Check it out below.

You know it’s not going to be your week when you play a good recovery shot from under the trees & this little fella gets in the way ?? To top it off. The ball rolls back off the green & don’t get up & down ?????? #sumstheweekup pic.twitter.com/fL5BASuJI9

— Richard Bland (@blandy73) May 21, 2022

Unfortunately for Bland, he was unable to replace the ball from the point the squirrel had stopped it as the ball had not come to rest. Per the USGA rules:

“If your ball is moved by an outside influence, such as an animal or a spectator, there is no penalty to anyone and the ball must be replaced. When your ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped, there is no penalty and you will normally play the ball from wherever it lies.”

Bland is heading home early after finishing the week at 10 over par.

More from the 19th Hole

• ‘Hey Cypress, we took your best shot!’ – Golfer plays Cypress Point in 70mph howling wind
• The chaotic F1 season finale explained in golf terms is absolutely hilarious
• ‘Don’t drink and order Taco Bell on Uber Eats’ – John Daly’s Taco Bell order is pretty incredible