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Augusta Nationwide Chairman Fred Ridley made it clear the Masters helps the USGA and R&A’s golf ball rollback plans, slated to take impact in 2028 for professionals.
Ridley, talking throughout his annual Wednesday press convention on the eve of the Masters, commented on Augusta Nationwide’s reluctance to proceed lengthening the course—which has constantly occurred over the previous 20 years.
“I’ve mentioned previously that I hope we won’t play the Masters at 8,000 yards however that’s prone to occur within the not-too-distant future below present requirements,” Ridley mentioned. “Accordingly, we help the selections which have been made by the R&A and the USGA as they’ve addressed the impression of distance in any respect ranges of the sport.”
A complete breakdown of the rollback can be read here however the brief abstract is that golf’s governing our bodies are altering golf ball testing requirements to restrict distance. The brand new guidelines, introduced on the finish of final 12 months, go into impact Jan. 1, 2028, as they relate to skilled golf.
There’s skepticism over whether or not the PGA Tour will undertake the brand new guidelines however Ridley mentioned he hoped it might be universally accepted so the golf world may keep away from further heartburn.
“I actually hope they are going to be, had been they not, it might trigger an excessive amount of stress within the sport it doesn’t want proper now,” Ridley mentioned.
Ridley made an attention-grabbing notice that no matter distance is restricted by extra stringent expertise requirements would doubtless be offset by gamers in different kinds like different efficiencies in gear and bodily coaching.
“What we discovered, although, over time is that we lengthen the golf course, everyone says it’s actually lengthy after which two or three years later it’s not so actually lengthy,” Ridley mentioned.
He additionally signaled his intention to carry 8,000 yards as a mark that received’t be handed below his management. That included an adamant assertion that the enduring par-3 twelfth won’t ever be lengthened whereas he’s the chairman.
“I can say it received’t occur whereas I’m chairman,” Ridley mentioned, evaluating it to touching up the Mona Lisa.
The Masters had been performed at roughly the identical yardage for practically 70 years till Augusta Nationwide lengthened the course because it grew to become out of scale, given hitting distances within the fashionable sport.
Final 12 months was the debut of the newly lengthened par-5 thirteenth which featured the next share of gamers going for the inexperienced in two. The scoring common dropped barely however the gap performed because it was initially supposed, in accordance with Ridley.
Ridley mentioned this week’s Masters may very well be the primary to have a spherical performed at greater than 7,600 yards and plans to elongate the course may very well be thought-about primarily based on distance developments. The successful rating within the match has been trending lower regardless of the lengthening.
“We now have some extra room (so as to add distance),” Ridley mentioned, “however we don’t have lots.”
It’s not shocking, given Ridley’s earlier feedback about limiting distance, however the affirmation was nonetheless important.
Keep tuned for extra of our Masters protection all through the week. Listed here are some tales main up into the match to get you prepared:
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