R&A chief executive Peter Dawson at St Andrews

Singh compared the state of the rough to the much-criticised Carnoustie course which hosted The Open in 1999.

"The changes have had support from the vast majority of players I've spoken to," said Royal and Ancient Golf Club chief executive Peter Dawson.

"I must say I was very surprised by Vijay's reported remarks."

Several leading players including Tiger Woods complained about the rough at Carnoustie six years ago, saying it reduced the tournament to a lottery and dubbing it 'Carnasty'.

Singh said he realised changes needed to be made at St Andrews, but thought they had not been dealt with in the right way.

"It is Carnoustie all over again," the Fijian complained.

"The course needed changing but I feel they may have overdone it.

"There are some holes where a yard can make the difference between being unplayable and somewhere you can make a birdie.

"The rough is not very consistent and if the win blows hard it will get really tough and par could be a good figure."

Alterations to the rough are not the only changes to The Old Course, however.