PGA Tour players criticize golf ball rollback regulations, branding them as “stupid” and “monstrous” by Keegan Bradley
Bahamas’ NASSAU Keegan Bradley has tested golf balls as one of his offseason activities. Srixon made him a unique pair of spheres. They belonged to the category of prospective rollbacks.
Thus, the six-time winner of the PGA Tour has some firsthand knowledge of what the R&A and USGA may be about to do.
Golf Digest said on Friday, citing industry insiders, that a regulation change that would universally shorten golf ball distances is anticipated to be announced by golf’s regulatory bodies the next week.
Following a three-year “Notice and Comment” period with equipment makers and other golf organizations, such as the PGA Tour, the anticipated regulation change will be implemented.
A new conforming ball is anticipated to be released in 2028 for elite players and in 2030 for leisure players.
The 37-year-old Bradley claimed at the Hero World Challenge on Saturday that “Srixon made whatever the USGA was saying, and it was 40, 50 yards [shorter] with my driver.” “I was shorter by one or two clubs.
I believe that the USGA acts in a reactionary manner in whatever they do. They fail to come up with a solution. They simply believe that we will have an impact on every golfer in the country. It is horrible for the amateur world to hit the ball shorter.
That is the most foolish thing that comes to mind. It’s not wise at all, in my opinion, especially considering how golf is becoming more and more popular right out of COVID.”
When asked about the impending rule change at the Hero World Challenge, none of the players believed that a global rollback was a good idea. The only person who believes it would be appropriate in the professional game is Tiger Woods, the tournament host. He and World No. 2 Rory McIlroy have been the leading advocates of dominating the ball at the highest level of competition.
Following a third-round one-under 71 at Albany, 47-year-old Woods stated, “We’ve been hammering the ball needs to slow down, but it has kept speeding up my entire time on tour and here we are.” I have always supported splitting up. It’s what I’ve always said. analogous to metal and wood bats used in baseball.
Justin Rose, the former winner of the U.S. Open, was taken aback to learn that the governing bodies were thinking about implementing a universal change that would affect both amateurs and professionals.
“It seemed to me that the tour would implement one regulation (a model municipal law) and perhaps major championships would implement another. And that puts a great deal of strain on the tour,” the 43-year-old Englishman Rose stated. “Now, it doesn’t make sense for the tour to stay where we were if recreational golf is also declining.
Because, in my opinion, the tour would say, “Okay,” if the amateurs continued to stay where they were. We intend to remain in our current location because we want the fan to be able to identify with the tour player. I could understand why that might be.
Naturally, if there was a ball for a major tournament, we would have to adjust accordingly. That’s how I would have proceeded with caution. It’s a much stranger scenario now. The ball that the amateurs play is slower than the one that we play on tour. That also doesn’t feel correct.
The regulating bodies changing the ball in any way, at any level, does not sit well with Rickie Fowler. He stated, “There are other ways of going about this,” and that they are “20 years too late” to address the problem.
However, he is particularly against a shorter ball for casual players. “I don’t want to see it as the golf ball being necessarily the right move to take the game and knock it back when it’s in the best position it’s ever been in,” Fowler continued.
“How can we say, ‘Oh, you love the game?’ when we’re at the best point the game has ever been? Yes. Hi, we appreciate you joining us on Covid. We’re going to shorten your hit by twenty yards now. Enjoy yourself. I comprehend both viewpoints. However, considering the state of the game and the discussion of its expansion, I believe it will take a significant turn for the worst.
Bradley is unsure of how he and his friends may be compelled to modify their games even more after the governing bodies modified putting few years ago and made anchoring illegal.
“I am uncertain about the consequences that will arise from the ball—what actions they will take, what path they will take,” he remarked. A comprehensive overhaul of the apparatus and shafts I utilize would be necessary. Indeed, it’s amazing how much has changed in the span of my career alone.
“I believe that we are continually punished for errors made by R&A and the USGA. It is not our concern if they allow the ball to travel too far. They [are taking this action] as retaliation against the professional golfers as well as the golf industry for a mistake they made. It’s among the silliest things I’ve ever heard of, in my opinion.
