A lot has been made of the recent announcement of bifurcation golf ball rollback proposals, with multiple players giving their thoughts and suggestions about the plan that has divided the golf world.
Whether it’s changing the golf ball, growing the rough, tightening the fairways or rolling back the driver, there have been many suggestions on how to combat the distance debate. However, after exceptional scoring in the recent Jonsson Workwear Open, DP World Tour player, Richard Mansell, has given his thoughts on how scores could be influenced more…
Tweeting after the event, Mansell stated that “if you shot -10 on the DP World Tour this week, you finished in a tie for 46th on a really long golf course. You had to be -17 for four rounds to be in the top 10. That’s not the golf ball, it’s the course set up…. Pretty simple what needs to change.”
Mansell isn’t the only one that has spoken about future course set ups, with PGA Tour player, Michael Kim, tweeting: “I truly am amazed at the growth of the rough brigade on Twitter. It’s such a bad idea.”
Following the opening line, Kim then gave seven reasons as to why growing rough won’t help, with the American stating: “1. Rough only makes it more advantageous for the longer hitters 2. There’s no skill involved in hitting from thick rough 3 . Golf is way more interesting on TV when the ball is in motion for long stretches. 4. It costs a lot of money. 5. Rough is not consistent everywhere 6. It can injure players 7. Spectators trample rough a TON especially for guys like Tiger. I could literally go on and on about this.”
In reaction to Kim’s tweet, Billy Horschel also gave his thoughts, as the seven-time PGA Tour winner responded: “On point #2…. It does take skill. Every part of the game has skill in it. Reading the lie, figuring out how to get clean contact with minimum rough between ball and club. Controlling the shot from the rough. I would recommend taking point #2 out of your argument.”
Multiple professionals have voiced their disdain at the proposals of bifurcation, with the likes of Bryson DeChambeau slamming the idea as “atrocious”, while Justin Thomas said the proposals are “so bad for the game of golf”.
The only real support of the rollback in equipment has come from Rory McIlroy, with the four-time Major winner happy to see the proposal to make the ball shorter in the pro game. Speaking prior to the WGC Match Play, the 33-year-old stated: “For elite level play, I really like it. I really do. I know that’s a really unpopular opinion amongst my peers, but I think it’s going to help identify who the best players are a bit easier.”