Multiple major champion blasts golf rule change: "What difference does that make?"

Six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo thinks golf's rule makers should have considered shortening the tee peg or reducing the face of the driver instead of rolling back the ball. 

For years golf's rule makers have grappled with the issue of distance in the elite men's game. 

The R&A and USGA want to protect golf courses that are not long enough to cope with today's drives of more than 340 yards. 

In late 2023, the governing bodies announced professionals will be required to use a modified ball from 2028, with amateurs to follow two years later. 

The PGA Tour has never supported the plan whilst the PGA of America, a close ally that runs one of the four majors, is in the same camp. 

It remains to be seen whether Augusta National will adopt the rule at The Masters. 

Faldo told National Club Golfer he doesn't believe the plans will make a difference whatsoever. 

"It's designed for the guys who have got 125mph clubhead speed," Faldo told NCG. 

"If you're back down at 100mph – you’re going to get affected more at that end than they are.

"They're going to lose 10/15 yards off their 360-yard drive. Whoop-de-do! They're now at 345. What difference does that make?"

Faldo continued: "But the other end is going to hurt. It's a bigger percentage, isn't it? 

"If you're hitting it 270 and you lose 15, that's going to hurt a lot more than at the other end. I

"I'm not a fan of rolling back – I keep going on about skill, bring back skill. The obvious (one) is the size of the driver face."

Faldo suggested changing the size of the tee peg would be a potential solution. 

"That doesn't cost a dollar to write that in the book," he said. 

"I even thought for pros on a course under 7200 yards, which is short, say to the guys – no tee pegs this week. 

"And if you're good enough to place it and hit a driver off the deck, good for you.

"If we've got length rules, what if we said nothing less than 10 degrees with a driver? That's like a 2-wood, but it's a different-shaped shot. 

"And we go to the other end, 56 degrees is the max. That's it, no more 60s and 62s. 

"That's a written rule change that's not going to cost the manufacturers a penny, but they would then start developing the driver. 

"How can we make the driver go further at 10 degrees? There's a handful of guys who can hit it 340 through the air. 

"That is frightening, to think a seriously good driver in my day was 260."

What have others said about the rollback?

The majority if elite men's players are against the proposals. 

Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau are just two names who have voiced their disgust, with the latter making a full YouTube video showing the difference in his game over 18 holes. 

Rory McIlroy is perhaps the only high-profile player who publicly supports the rollback. 

When the initial plans were announced, McIlroy made a rare post on social media explaining how he believes it will make zero difference. 

McIlroy was always a supporter of bifurcating golf's rules. "I don't understand the anger about the golf ball roll back," he said. 

"The people who are upset about this decision shouldn't be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn't want bifurcation.

"Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines, when, in reality, the game is already bifurcated.

"You think we play the same stuff you do? They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone. 

"Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but, yet again in this game, money talks."

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