Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley has given the USGA and The R&A a boost by stating that the club supports the golf ball rollback plan.
The issue of driving distances has long been a point of contention in the elite game and after bifurcation plans were released in March last year seeking to address the issue, there was a considerable backlash.
That led to the governing bodies returning with revised plans last December, where they announced that, rather than bifurcation, the golf ball will be rolled back for professional, elite amateur and recreational players to “reduce the impact increased hitting distances have on golf’s long-term sustainability.”
Augusta National has been far from immune from the trend of longer driving distances, with the 13th hole most notably being extended considerably before the 2023 edition of The Masters, while the second hole has been lengthened by 10 yards for this year’s tournament.
While there was a mixed reaction to the golf ball rollback announcement elsewhere, Ridley explained during his press conference before The Masters that the trend can’t continue. He said: “Adding distance to the Augusta National golf course has become standard operation over the past two decades.
The 13th tee box at Augusta National was set further back to extend the hole in time for the 2023 Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)
“For almost 70 years, the Masters was played at just over 6,900 yards. Today the course measures 7,550 yards from the markers, and we may well play one of the tournament rounds this year at more than 7,600 yards.
“I’ve said in the past that I hope we will not play the Masters at 8,000 yards. But that is likely to happen in the not too distant future under current standards. Accordingly, we support the decisions that have been made by The R&A and the USGA as they have addressed the impact of distance at all levels of the game.”
Following the announcement of the plan, players, manufacturers and circuits were quick to react, with the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy supporting the proposal, but other pros critical, including LPGA Tour player Jenny Shin, who described it as “depressing.”
Golf manufacturer TaylorMade was also critical, while Titleist was unhappy too, saying in its own statement: “We do not believe this is in the…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly…