A carbuncle on the face of one of the finest golf courses in the British Isles, or a picture-perfect test of approach play and putting?

The debate surrounding the new green on the 572 yards par five 17th hole at Royal Birkdale has been just as fierce as the examination on the effect of Tiger Woods's absence at the Open Championship.

Golf course architects mess with tradition at their peril and Martin Hawtree, whose grandfather Fred Hawtree redesigned these Lancashire links in the 1920s, has chanced his arm by turning the 17th green into a tight, undulating two-tier putting surface.

Lee Westwood, among the favourites to lift the Claret Jug come Sunday night, was vehemently critical of the revision and suggested the green will be dug up following the tournament.

"I think everybody has accepted that something has gone wrong with it," he said. "It's just out of character with the rest of the golf course. It's not up to the standard of the rest of the greens. The rest of them are brilliant."

In fact, opinions sought from a number of leading contenders suggested that Westwood does not speak for "everybody" as he claims.

Phil Mickelson, the world No2, is renowned for his analytical approach to golf.

The American said: "I know that the 17th green may not look consistent with the other greens on the golf course, but I still think it's a wonderful hole.

"It's a very strategic green for your second shot, as opposed to a third-shot approach.

"That's because there are places you can hit it around that green that are pretty easy up-and-downs to certain pins, and there are other places that are almost impossible." Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, a links exponent who comes to Birkdale boosted by his victory in the Barclays Scottish Open, suggested: "It's a funky little hole, it's a funky little green.

"Maybe it's a bit out of character with the rest of the golf course in that the rest of the greens aren't that difficult. But it's going to offer up some drama, no doubt about it.

"I haven't liked or disliked it as such. Maybe I'll start to form an opinion as the competition begins, whether it's good or not so nice to me."

Trevor Immelman, who won this year's Augusta Masters on some of the most difficult greens golf has to offer, insisted: "There's scope for some great pin positions. There's a lot of little humps and hollows and the bunkers fit in well."

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R & A, has listened to every opinion. "There has been some eloquent comment from some, not so eloquent from others," he said.

"The green is undeniably different from many others on the golf course. But with the pin positions we have in mind I'm quite happy it's perfectly playable."