Rory McIlroy, the world number two golfer, has expressed his support for the plans to roll back golf ball technology to reduce the distance they can travel. The proposal, announced by the USGA and R&A, the governing bodies of golf, aims to address the growing concern over the impact of distance on the game.
McIlroy: “I don’t understand the anger”
McIlroy, who is known for his long and accurate drives, said he does not understand the “anger” towards the plans from some players and manufacturers. He said he believes the rollback will make the game more challenging and rewarding for the players and more enjoyable for the fans.
“I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back,” McIlroy said in an interview with No Laying Up, a golf podcast. “I think it’s a good thing for the game. I think it will make the game more skillful. I think it will make the courses more relevant. I think it will make the majors more prestigious.”
McIlroy added that he is willing to use the rolled-back ball even if the PGA Tour does not implement the rule, as he thinks it will give him the best chance to win more major championships, which he considers the most important goal of his career.
“Honestly, for me, the major championships are the biggest deal,” he said. “So if the PGA Tour doesn’t implement it, I might still play the Model Local Rule ball, because I know that that’ll give me the best preparation leading into the major championships.”
The Model Local Rule
The USGA and R&A unveiled their plans to roll back golf ball technology last week, after a five-year “distance insights project” that revealed the increasing trend of distance gains across the professional and amateur levels of the game. The proposal, which is expected to take effect in 2026, introduces a new “Model Local Rule” that allows tournament organizers to require players to use a ball that travels shorter distances.
The rule is intended to apply only to the highest levels of the game, such as the major championships and other elite events, while leaving the current equipment standards unchanged for the recreational golfers. The rule also allows for different specifications for different regions and climates, to account for the variations in altitude, temperature, and humidity.
The USGA and R&A said the rollback will help preserve the “skill, challenge, and enjoyment” of the game, as well as protect the “long-term sustainability” of the golf courses and the environment.
The reaction from the golf world
The proposal has sparked a mixed reaction from the golf world, with some players and manufacturers opposing the change and others supporting it. Some of the critics argue that the rollback will stifle innovation, reduce diversity, and penalize the players who have worked hard to improve their distance. Some of the supporters argue that the rollback will restore the balance, strategy, and variety of the game, and make the courses more playable and accessible.
The PGA Tour, the Augusta National, and the PGA of America, which run the other three major championships, have not yet announced their stance on the rule, but have indicated that they will work with the USGA and R&A to find a solution that benefits the game. The LIV Golf, a rival tour backed by Saudi money, has also expressed its opposition to the rule, and has filed a lawsuit against the PGA Tour over its decision to suspend players who participate in the new circuit.
McIlroy, who has been one of the most vocal critics of the LIV Golf, said he hopes that the golfers who play on the new tour will come to the table and try to resolve the conflict with the established tours. He said he hates what the division is doing to the game, and that he believes there is a solution to everything.
“I’ve probably said a few things that are maybe too inflammatory at times, but it just comes from the heart and how much I hate what this is doing to the game,” he said. “It has been an ugly year [but] there’s a solution to everything. If we can send rockets to the moon and bring them back again and have them land on their own I’m sure we can figure out how to make professional golf cohesive again.”
