Players Call Golf Ball Distance Restrictions "Foolish Act"

Thomas, DeShambo, Burns, Bradley, and Others React

As the United States Golf Association (USGA) and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A), which oversee the global golf rules, announced plans to limit golf ball performance, players are voicing their opposition.

Justin Thomas (USA), ranked 10th in the world, responded to a question about this at a press conference held on the 15th (local time) ahead of the start of the PGA Tour Valspar Championship (total prize money $8.1 million) at the Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course (par 71) in Palm Harbor, Florida. He called it a "bad decision for golf."

He said, "I don't understand how limiting golf ball distance is supposed to advance the game," adding, "One of golf's charms is that ordinary fans can buy and use the same equipment and balls as we do, but the USGA seems to have other ideas."

Justin Thomas

Sam Burns (USA), who is aiming for his third consecutive win at the Valspar Championship, called the golf ball performance restrictions "really foolish." He criticized, saying, "Golf fans enjoy watching male players hit long shots," and "I don't understand trying to reverse technological progress." Webb Simpson (USA), who has won seven times in total, also chimed in, saying, "I don't know why they want to regress equipment," and "This can be solved by focusing on course design."

Bryson DeChambeau (USA), the 2020 US Open champion preparing for the second LIV Golf event in Tucson, Arizona, expressed anger, calling the golf ball distance limit "the worst thing that could happen to the sport of golf." As a prominent long hitter, DeChambeau said, "It's a huge restriction for players who have worked really hard to learn how to hit the ball far," and pointed out, "Instead of controlling distance, courses should be made more challenging."

DeChambeau also strongly criticized the decision as "a thoughtless move lacking imagination that ruins golf." He said, "Everyone wants to see long drives. That's why people come to watch golf tournaments."

Keegan Bradley (USA), who won the 2011 PGA Championship and has five career wins, called it "too extreme a decision" and predicted, "It will face strong opposition from many players."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.