I understood McIlroy when he said that he thought aiming approaches in the middle to be a good strategy. If he is able to pull that off, he is still going to have some extremely challenging putts.
When I played the course it was early October and the weather was cool. The greens were close to perfect, very firm, as were the roll off areas. If keeping the A1, A4 alive at this time of year takes the firmness out of the greens and their surrounds, that takes away from the intended playing characteristics, and I can understand the move to Miniverde or Ultra dwarf, if it allows the superintendent to avoid softening the course to keep it alive.
Given the very recent introduction of A1, A4, I'm disapponted it has to be replaced, as it is a superb putting grass, but if it is unsuited to Pinehursts climate and playing character it would be best to make the change. I wonder why unsuitability wasn't discerned prior to that grass's selection.
The grass issue raises a criticism I have of The Ocean Course which looks firm around the greens but tends to be soft, at least when I have played it in the fall. It feels out of character for its look and location. I suspect that the culprit is the Pas Palum that is used on and around the greens.