The distance issue in golf took another twist with the announcement last Wednesday that options beyond a potential ball rollback will be reconsidered before an intended implementation in 2030.
Though the USGA announcement, made in conjunction with the R&A, the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, was short on specifics, it is clear that a broader menu of options will be considered with an emphasis on still meeting the 2030 goal. The announcement cited three key outcomes after an extended period of discussion across the industry: “(a) recognition that distance continues to increase at the elite level; (b) a concern by the tours that the updated [Overall Distance Standard] testing approach may not achieve the desired results; (c) a collective willingness to reconsider alternative approaches that may more materially impact the pace of future distance increases, while minimizing disruption to the overall golf market.”
In other words, the proposed rollback criteria may not be enough and there is interest in hearing from more than the governing bodies, including from the PGA Tour and its players who have indicated they are not in favor of a rollback but open to alternatives.
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Compiled by Mike Cullity
