Golf ball changes will bring back skills, says Rory McIlroy
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Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy said the R&A and USGA rule changes would "bring back some skills into the pro game that have maybe been lost".
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Rory McIlroy has said that golf ball rules announced on Dec 6
The longest hitters are expected to lose up to 15 yards in driving distance under regulations relating to ball specifications set out by the game’s governing bodies, the UK-based R&A and US Golf Association (USGA).
The new rules will apply at the elite level from 2028 and for recreational players from 2030.
“For the last couple of decades, we have been talking about what to do, especially as golf courses are getting longer, they’re needing more acreage to build courses, is that sustainable?” world No. 2 McIlroy, a four-time Major winner, told Sky Sports.
“There’s all of these environmental factors that come into it. I think it (the change) will just bring back some skills into the pro game that have maybe been lost and I think it’ll make the pro game more entertaining to watch.
“I think you’re going to see a different variety of games succeed. It’s not just going to be this ‘bomb and gouge’ that we see predominantly now when you watch the top level of golf.”
The R&A and USGA said that they wanted to protect the integrity of golf courses, including their overall length, and ensure that a variety of skills were required for success.
“The decision aims to reduce the impact that increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability,” a joint statement said.
“Longer golf courses require additional resources such as water, the cost of renovating or moving elements like tees and bunkers continues to rise, and other long-term impacts have been identified as a result of increased distance.”
Starting in 2028, golf balls will be limited to travel 317 yards, with three yards of tolerance, via testing conditions that will increase from the current standard of 120mph (193kmh) swing speed to 125mph.
This marks the first time that test speeds have been updated since 2004, when the current standard was set based on the longest hitters at that time.
The average driving distances on the PGA Tour is around 300 yards – up from 286.5 yards in the 2004 season – but many players are well in excess of that, meaning some courses are in danger of becoming obsolete.
According to the R&A and USGA, average professional tour and elite male players are expected to see a reduction of nine to 11 yards in driving distance while LPGA players can expect a reduction of five to seven yards.
The rule will also impact recreational golfers – which was not expected to be the case when the R&A and USGA unveiled their proposals in March – beginning in 2030 when driving distance reductions will be five yards or less.
The change will have less of an impact in women’s professional golf and a “minimal distance impact” for most recreational golfers, added the two bodies.
“Governance is hard,” said Mike Whan, chief executive officer of the USGA.
“And while thousands will claim that we did too much, there will be just as many who said we didn’t do enough to protect the game long term. But from the very beginning, we’ve been driven to do what is right for the game, without bias.
“As we’ve said, doing nothing is not an option – and we would be failing in our responsibility to protect the game’s future if we didn’t take appropriate action now.”
R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said that he is convinced the decision is “one of the key ways of achieving a sustainable future for golf and meeting our environmental responsibilities”.
“The measure we are taking has been carefully considered and calibrated,” Slumbers added.
AFP, REUTERS
