PGA Tour stars SLAM golf ball rollback proposal: "Everyone's against it!"
A few PGA Tour stars have slammed the USGA and R&A's modified golf ball proposal ahead of the Wells Fargo Championship this week.
PGA Tour stars still don't appear to have bought into the idea of a golf ball rollback, months after the proposal was first announced by the USGA and R&A.
Back in mid-March, the governing powers of golf announced their proposal to introduce new golf balls for elite competitions that would roll the ball back around 15 yards off the tee.
Related: CONFIRMED: R&A, USGA announce golf ball bifurcation plans for 2026
It became a polarizing concept immediately, with stars like Sam Burns hitting out against the idea.
The World No. 13 spoke to reporters shortly after the proposal was announced. He said:
Related: PGA Tour pro Sam Burns RIPS golf ball rollback idea: "I think it's pretty silly!"
Now in May, the top players on the PGA Tour are in North Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club.
It's the latest of the PGA Tour's new designated events for 2023 with $20m purses and stronger fields.
Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler are both missing from the tournament after choosing to use this week as their one designated event their allowed to miss.
Related: Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler play their OUT card at Wells Fargo Championship
Skipping more than one will result in a hefty fine, as Rory McIlroy recently learned.
Ahead of the tournament, both World No. 4 Patrick Cantlay and No. 53 Rickie Fowler were asked their thoughts on the golf ball rollback. Neither seemed happy about the idea.
"Yeah, I think it's a bad idea. I don't think that it would help the game," Cantlay told reporters. The 31-year-old also admitted that a representative from the USGA and R&A called him to discuss his thoughts on the idea.
He added:
Fowler, in his own press conference ahead of the tournament also shared similar thoughts on the concept:
"I don't like it. I would say you could take -- I think the only person I heard speak potentially in favor a little bit was maybe Rory I think I had heard. I don't want to quote anyone on that," he said. "Outside of that, as far as players, tour manufacturers and stuff, I don't know of anyone that is anywhere leaning towards it. Everyone's against it."
Fowler added that he had not been reached out to from a representative to speak about it.
He expanded on his thoughts:
Manufacturers and golf stakeholders have until 14 August 2023 to provide their thoughts on the Model Local Rule. If the USGA and R&A go ahead with proposal, it will take into effect 1 January 2026.
