Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley believes it’s time for the talking to stop on the golf ball rollback debate.
Ridley gave his thoughts to the media ahead of The Masters, and first touched on the issue in his introduction, saying: “We have been consistent in our support of the governing bodies in their effort to regulate the distance elite players are hitting the golf ball.”
Initially, the plan was to introduce the rollback, which would see the distance of the longest hitters reduced by 13 to 15 yards, in 2028 for professional golf. However, that now looks like being pushed to 2030.
Ridley, who also pointed out that Augusta National’s support for the rollback hasn’t wavered, later came back to the subject, suggesting that it’s imperative it is addressed.
He said: “There’s always been quite a lot of agreement. My feeling on this subject is failure’s not an option. I think we need to continue to work together to come to some agreement. Tough issues like this require compromise, and I think there has been some compromise to date.”
Ridley thinks for the good of the game, increasing driving distances can’t be the only consideration.
He added: “What we’re trying to do is to protect the integrity of what makes golf so great. I think I tried to articulate it in my comments, and that’s that it’s more than about just hitting prodigious drives.
“I talked to Jackson Herrington, one of our young amateurs, and he told me that yesterday he hit it over the bunker on one and five, which is about a 325-yard carry, and one was into the wind.”
Ridley revealed he’d been given feedback on driving distances from amateur Jackson Herrington
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Augusta National is one course that, without drastic measures, would struggle to continue lengthening holes to accommodate increasing driving distances, as Ridley acknowledged.
He explained: “I’ve said that we can make changes, but there’s not much we can do to make changes, number one, unless we tear down the Eisenhower Cabin, and we’re not going to do that.”
However, he believes now is the time to act, with the debate having raged for years. He said: “We’ll make changes when we…
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