Keegan Bradley SLAMS USGA amid golf ball rollback drama!

Keegan Bradley does not appear to be the USGA's No. 1 fan.

04 Jun 2023

Add Keegan Bradley's name to the list of players who do not appear sold on the USGA and R&A's golf ball rollback proposal.

Bradley, 36, is a five-time PGA Tour winner, which includes one major championship.

The American won the PGA Championship back in 2011 when it was hosted at Atlanta Athletic Club in Georgia.

Five years later, however, Bradley's major-winning putting technique was banned by the USGA.

That year was when the USGA implemented the anchoring ban, which included resting the putter against your stomach.

As a result, when asked about the USGA's latest proposal, that of rolling back the golf ball, Bradley referred back to his rocky history with the organization.

"Yeah, I have a really strange relationship with the USGA from the belly putter," Bradley told reporters following his round at the Memorial Tournament on Saturday.

"I just feel like the USGA admits to making mistakes and then they punish the players for it. I don't feel like it's our fault that they think that the ball went too far or that they should have banned the belly putter. They retroactively, decades later, try to adjust and then they just throw it on us. Which is, we do this as a living. This is how we make our living. I don't think that's necessarily fair that we pay for their mistakes. And I don't -- I think it's fine. I mean, what are you going to do if you roll the ball back on this course? You got to build all new tees. It's 7,800 yards long."

The golf ball rollback proposal was first announced by the USGA and R&A back in mid-March.

If gone ahead, modified golf balls would be used in elite competitions that would roll the ball back roughly 15 yards. It would go into effect in 2026.

Since the announcement, many players have spoken out against the idea, including Sam Burns, Patrick Cantlay, and Rickie Fowler.

Ahead of the Memorial Tournament this week, the USGA, R&A, and members of the PGA Tour's Player Advisory Council had a meeting to discuss the proposal.

According to Golf Channel's Rex Hoggard, sources told him the response from players was "chilly."

Bradley told reporters Saturday he did not attend the USGA discussion this week.

He added:

"I think the USGA makes a lot of mistakes and I don't feel as though us, the players, should have to pay for it. I mean, I don't think that that's right."

After making the cut on the number this week, Bradley shot the low-round of the day on Saturday with a 7-under 65 at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

9th(?!) birdie of the day for @Keegan_Bradley
He’s now T5 and just three back of the lead @MemorialGolf. pic.twitter.com/DsctwV1BJ6
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 3, 2023