In the year since Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley raised the possibility of regulating the golf ball, the issue has been a topic of heated discussion throughout the sport. The R&A and USGA, golf’s two governing bodies, commissioned a study on the distance the golf ball travels and are considering regulations to reduce that distance.
Rory McIlroy, who is a member of the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council, told Golfweek in a recent interview that he’s surprised by the strong reactions to the discussion.
“I don’t understand the anger,” McIlroy said. “I don’t understand why it’s become so contentious.I understand both sides of the argument, but I don’t understand why it has become such a hot button issue for people. I don’t know what to tell you. I’m just going to try to be as fair and impartial as possible in all of this.”
McIlroy acknowledged that the roll back could have an impact on golfers at the highest level of the game, but he doesn’t think it will significantly impact the amateur golfer.”I don’t think it will have any material impact on any amateur golfer anywhere in the world,” he said. “If the ball goes 5 percent shorter, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to shoot 5 percent worse scores.
That doesn’t happen. And that’s the point I think a lot of people miss. It doesn’t change your ability to go out and play well or score well. It just makes it a little more difficult for the best players in the world to hit the ball as far as they do. It is really only the top 1 percent of golfers that it will make a difference for.”
McIlroy is hopeful that the governing bodies can reach a consensus on the issue and find a solution that works for the game. He believes that making a decision sooner rather than later is important.
“I think it’s probably something that has to be decided soon, because if it gets prolonged and it becomes like this big, drawn-out saga, then it’s never going to be a good outcome,” he said.
“The best thing is to do it quickly and move on.
That’s the only thing I can think of. If you drag this out for three or four years, it’s not going to be a good look. Whether that means a one-year, two-year or three-year transition period, who knows? But at least getting to a decision and making that decision and moving on would be the best outcome for everyone.”
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