Mickelson - critical of USGA officials (Getty Images)

A year on from what many considered a farcical finish to the US Open Phil Mickelson has voiced the opinion that similar conditions could develop at Pinehurst.

Twenty-eight out of 66 players failed to break 80 on the last day at Shinnecock Hills and play had to be suspended for emergency watering of the short seventh after three of the first four players putted off the green and triple-bogeyed.

Ernie Els described conditions as "out of control" and Jerry Kelly said of the United States Golf Association: "When are they going to grow a head?

"If they were smart they'd realise they look really stupid."

Mickelson, runner-up to Retief Goosen 12 months ago and to Payne Stewart the last time the championship was staged at Pinehurst in 1999, commented after practice: "Without rain we have potential for 18 holes that could be like number seven at Shinnecock - very conceivable."

But because he came so close to victory there the left-hander joked: "I'm a little biased because I would love to see that happen.

"It's always been my contention that if nobody can hit a green I've got a pretty good chance. I'm not opposed to that occurring this week."

Pinehurst's greens are raised and built to reject anything less than perfect.

But the fringes are less than perfect themselves this year after a difficult growing season and a mixture of new turf and sand has been used in repair work.

That, however, will only make chipping or putting up the banks even harder to control.

Padraig Harrington, for one, is thinking of using a fairway wood for such shots for the first time in his career.

Stewart won in 1999 at one under par and Vijay Singh said on Wednesday that unless there was rain he did not see anybody breaking par this time.

He has already told Tom Meeks, the USGA's senior director of rules and competition, that if he had better find a place to hide if the course gets away again like last year.

"If you are not careful you can make bogey on every hole with good shots," said the Fijian.

Joint third with Tiger Woods behind Stewart and Mickelson six years ago he added: "I don't remember it being this tough. This is the hardest course I've played and it's going to be one hell of a test.

"I had a few words with Tom Meeks. If it does not rain you can't stop the ball on the greens. I don't think they are going to lose the course like last year when they made a mistake and it was impossible, but if they don't watch it, it will get over the edge in a heartbeat."

Singh further commented that anybody achieving 12 out of 18 greens in regulation will probably lead that category.

At 7,214 yards the course matches Bethpage in 2002 as the longest ever used for the event. Frighteningly, it is also a par 70.