PGA Tour winner offers sarcastic response to massive golf rule news
PGA Tour winner Wesley Bryan offered a typically sarcastic response after reports golf's rule-makers will rollback the golf ball.
PGA Tour winner Wesley Bryan offered a typically sarcastic response after reports emerged golf's governing bodies are planning to rollback the golf ball.
A report from Golf Digest published on 1 December claimed the R&A and USGA will take a dramatic step to combat golf's distance problem.
It is said the governing bodies will make the official announcement next week.
The decision would affect amateurs and professionals and marks the latest twist in the distance saga.
Golf's rule-makers have been grappling with the issue of distance for several years.
In 2020 they commissioned a distances insights project report and, off the back of that came March's announcement to propose a Model Local Rule.
The MLR would give tournament organisers the option to use golf balls that are tested under 'modified launch conditions'.
In other words, competitors would all be using a golf ball that would travel a much shorter distance.
The MLR would've only been used in elite male competitions from 2026.
The game went into a comment period after the announcement and, unsurprisngly, some of golf's biggest hitters weren't happy.
Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas were just two high-profile players who blasted the idea.
Perhaps Rory McIlroy was the only leading player who suggested the MLR wasn't disastrous.
Original equipment manufacturers also voiced their displeasure. The PGA Tour told its members they wouldn't be adopting the MLR.
The report by GD suggested the decision by the R&A and USGA will be implemented in 2028.
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers has spoken at length on this topic and recently suggested the game only has three options.
He previously told GD: "I think it's unequivocal that the golf ball is being hit further in the last 20 years.
"I see no credible reason to expect that not to continue.
"There are only three options – we change the ball for the whole game, we bifurcate or create model local rules, or we do nothing.
"And doing nothing is not an option. So it's one of the first two and we will be saying something in the not-too-distant future."
Bryan was just one PGA Tour player to offer his opinion on the latest development, writing on X: "We should make the size of the basketball bigger as well.
"People are starting to shoot the ball too well. It would make for a more entertaining experience in my opinion. Less offense sells. Right?"
Will you abide by the golf ball rollback?
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) December 2, 2023
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