Jack Nicklaus backs controversial change coming to golf in 2028

Multiple major champion Jack Nicklaus has thrown his weight behind plans to limit how far the golf ball will travel. 

Whilst the PGA Tour remains in a civil war with the breakaway LIV Golf League, another one could be on the horizon. 

Golf's rule makers, the R&A and USGA, announced in late 2023 that all professionals will be required to use a modified ball from 2028. 

The PGA Tour - and several high-profile players and equipment manufacturers - are against the plans. 

Rory McIlroy is perhaps the biggest name who has backed the proposals, arguing that it will make 'no difference whatsoever' to the average golfer and will put the game back on a path of 'sustainability'. 

McIlroy said bifurcating the game is the logical answer but believes manufacturers don't want that as it would negatively affect their bottom lines. 

The PGA of America, which runs the PGA Championship and is a close ally of the Tour, are also against the rollback. 

PGA of America chief executive Derek Sprague explained before the second men's major of the year the governing body was 'vehemently against' the rollback.

Nicklaus outlined his stance before the 2025 Memorial. 

The Golden Bear believes the golf courses simply cannot keep up if there is no change. 

"When and if they ever enact their new golf ball rule, it will only help this golf course," he said of Muirfield Village. 

"I guess they pushed it back two more years, did they? They pushed it back from what, '26 to '28? 

"And as I understand the ball is [going to travel] about 14 yards shorter for the longest of hitters out here, maybe two or three yards shorter for the average golfer.

"I think that will only help sort of put a line in the sand, hopefully the line doesn't go anywhere. We can't just keep buying land. You can't just buy the golf course next door. 

"Not many people can afford what Augusta did at Augusta Country Club, you just can't do that.

"We don't have any land to buy. I mean, I can go buy houses and knock 'em down. I obviously can't do that, but, you know, that's what we would have to do. 

"But the game's controlled by how far a golf ball goes. If you control it within some reason then we know that a golf course that is here today will still be sufficient 20 years from now."

Nicklaus explained several 'iconic' courses are currently under threat by being overpowered by modern equipment.

"If you control it within some reason then we know that a golf course that is here today will still be sufficient 20 years from now," Nicklaus said. 

He added: "They talked about, well the golf ball is only increasing, you know, a yard a year. Well what happens in 40 years? That's 40 yards. 

"And I don't think that there are many golf courses that can sustain that kind of a change. 

"Insane is not the right word, but [we] can't allow that to happen. It just doesn't work.

"So my feeling, obviously, is that the more that the USGA and the R&A get to bring it back to where it's -- I don't care if the standard doesn't change from here -- I don't think we're ever going to go back to where I think it should have been.

"I mean, right now we probably have, in this country, maybe a hundred golf courses that really could handle a significant event. We used to have a couple thousand.

"If we brought the golf ball back to where it was in 1995 when we went from a wound golf ball to a composite golf ball we would have a couple thousand golf courses that could hold a major event without totally having to redo 'em, you know, but we don't.

"And so the ball is what it is. As long as it doesn't go any further this golf course will be fine for a long time."

Nicklaus also spoke about McIlroy's decision to skip the tournament he hosts annually without even telling him. 

He also addressed whether or not is should be an obligation for golfers to always speak to the media.