The two most recent members of the PGA Tour to voice their thoughts on the anticipated golf ball announcement are Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley.
Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler are in the camp that opposes the anticipated announcement to roll back the golf ball.
Golf’s regulatory bodies have been debating the difficult subject of distance for years, and it looks like a decision about how to handle it is almost certain.
The R&A and USGA are expected to declare a complete reversal of golf ball technology, according to a detailed report published in Golf Digest.
The original idea was to implement a Model Local Rule starting in 2026 to restrict the most skilled players in elite competitions.
According to R&A Chief Executive Martin Slumbers, “the game was not happy with the Model Local Rule,” he told GD.
He was speaking of the pushback from the PGA of America, the PGA Tour, equipment manufacturers, and even the biggest names in the sport.
According to him, the governing bodies were left with three choices.
Change the ball for the duration of the game, divide the game into two halves and make up local rules, or do nothing. He declared, “There is no option to do nothing.”
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods have already weighed in on the matter.
After playing his first 72 holes of golf since withdrawing from the 2023 Masters, 47-year-old Woods offered his evaluation.
McIlroy made the decision to use social media in his argument. “Money talks in this game once more,” he angrily declared.
After competing in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Fowler and Bradley tore into the plans.
According to Fowler, making this change at this time would be a “monumental” step back because the game is currently in the “best place” it has ever been.
Bradley described the plans as monstrous.
Keegan Bradley
“I think that the USGA … everything that they do is reactionary.
“They don’t think of a solution.
“They just think we’re going to affect a hundred percent of the population that plays golf.
“For the amateur world to hit the ball shorter is monstrous.
“I can’t think of anything more stupid than that.
“I don’t think it’s very smart at all, especially when golf’s growing in popularity literally coming out of COVID.”
Rickie Fowler:
“To take the game and knock it back when it’s in the best position it’s ever been in, I don’t want to see it as the golf ball being necessarily the right move.
“I don’t see how when we’re at the best place the game has ever been ‘Oh, you love the game? Yeah. Hey, thanks for joining us over COVID.
“Now we’re going to make you hit it 20 yards shorter. ‘Have fun.’
“I understand both sides. But looking at it as far as the game and everyone talks about growing the game, I think it’s going to be a huge step back.”
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