Top PGA Tour Pros Renew Fight Against USGA Golf-Ball Rollback

Overview

• Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth restated their opposition, with Thomas questioning why amateurs should set pro rules and reporting indicating little support among Tour player directors.
• The rollback would cap ball performance to cut driving distance, with the change slated for pro golf in 2028 and for amateur play in 2030.
• Spieth said the prototypes he tested showed uneven impact, describing shots with the same ball speed that flew very different distances and produced wide dispersion.
• Maverick McNealy argued the new ball tests miss the USGA’s goal, and Brian Harman said today’s ultra-forgiving drivers are the larger problem and suggested trying non-hollow heads.
• The USGA floated the idea in 2021, the PGA Tour first rejected it, and a renewed motion passed in December 2023, while new reporting warns Tour events could end up under different rules than most majors.