Open chief confirms golf's rule makers targeting driver next: "We just don't know how to do it yet"

Martin Slumbers used his final press conference as the chief executive of the R&A to confirm golf's rule makers are targeting changes to the driver next. 

Slumbers announced in January that he was stepping down from his role at the end of the year. 

Former rugby chief executive Mark Darbon will succeed the 63-year-old. 

Last December, the R&A and USGA finally announced plans to limit how far the golf ball will travel. 

The governing bodies say they want to protect courses that aren't long enough to cope with players hitting drives more than 350 yards. 

Rory McIlroy was the highest-profile player who has backed the proposals, explaining the change will make absolutely no difference to the average golfer. 

Elsewhere, there has been widespread anger from Tour players as well as equipment manufacturers. 

Slumbers told reporters today (Wednesday) ahead of the 152nd Open at Royal Troon that the feedback the governing bodies asked for on their initial proposals to combat distance the industry's response was, 'Okay, but only choose one'. 

"We decided that the ball was the most effective way to be able to move forward," Slumbers said.

Slumbers said the common theme throughout his tenure was to ensure the governing bodies get the right balance between skill and technology. 

A reporter put it to Slumbers that elite players these days have confirmed the drivers they are using a virtually 'self-correcting' and not a good demonstration of skill. 

Slumbers said: "We believe that there is work that needs to be done to make the driver less forgiving for the best players in the world. 

"We just don't know how to do it yet. So we'll work with the industry."

He added: "The most important thing between now and 2028 [is] we work with the industry, deeply conscious of the change that we're putting into the system, and all our focus will be on getting the golf ball 2028-2030, but rest assured we've not lost sight of the driver. 

"We'll be continuing to think about that and engaging with some bright people to think about how to do that."

Elsewhere, Slumbers expressed concern with the money problem in the elite men's game. 

The R&A have chosen to up the prize purse for 2024 by $500,000. 

The champion golfer of the year will receive $3,100,000 from the $17m purse, which is a stark contrast to the three other men's majors, certain PGA Tour and LIV Golf events. 

"What we're really talking about in the whole of this is getting the balance between particularly the prize money and the investment into the game in a way that we can ensure that the pie grows, and if the pie grows, everybody does better," he said. 

"If you reallocate incorrectly within an existing pie, there's a real danger that the pie will shrink."

Slumbers also stated he believed the R&A provided ample opportunity for LIV players to qualify for The Open. 

He suggested the R&A is still open to exploring other pathways. 

Slumbers also confirmed The Open will head back to Muirfield soon and no decisions have been made about taking the major to Portmarnock in the Republic of Ireland. 

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