Masters champion urges "proper rollback" after record PGA Tour score at The Sentry

Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman believes a "proper rollback" of the golf ball is now a necessity in a bid for golf courses such as Kapalua to still be played as they were originally designed. 

Immelman, who now works as a CBS Sports golf analyst, made his feelings be known on X / Twitter after watching his fellow International Hideki Matsuyama seal a record PGA Tour low 72-hole tournament score of 35-under par at The Sentry on the Plantation Course in Hawaii.

The Japanese superstar fired three rounds of 65 and a sensational 62 in the third round en route to a three-shot victory over Collin Morikawa.

It marked the 11th victory of Matsuyama's PGA Tour career and earned him $3.6m in the process - an epic pay day that made his caddie Shota go wild on the back of the 18th green.

The Sentry at Kapalua has now played host to three of the lowest 72-hole tournament scores on the PGA Tour.

Prior to Matsuyama clinching the record on Sunday, the previous record was held by Cameron Smith in 2022.

Smith posted a 34-under par total that week, finishing one shot clear of Jon Rahm. 

Over the last 15 years at Kapalua, only three winning scores have been under 20-under par. 

While some golf fans out there do very much enjoy a birdie fest on the PGA Tour, others believe tournaments such as The Sentry are now turning into a farce given the consistent low scoring over 72 holes. 

It's also a reason why players such as Shane Lowry are more than prepared to skip the PGA Tour's first event of the season.

"Me, coming off the holidays in Ireland, flying 25 hours, needing to shoot 30-under?" said Lowry. "No, I don't think so."

During the live coverage of The Sentry at the weekend, NBC Sports announcer and Maui resident Mark Rolfing revealed the par-5 5th could next year be turned into a par-4 making the course a par-72 instead of a par-73. 

Rolfing made the claim after watching players tear up the par-5 5th, in particular Canada's Taylor Pendrith who made the eighth albatross of his career on the hole on Sunday.

Not that PGA Tour fans saw much of it.

"Hideki's 35 under might be safe for a while," tweeted Golf Channel writer Brentley Romine.

"Mark Rolfing says there have been discussions this week to turn the par-5 5th hole into a par-4 for next year's Sentry, making Kapalua's Plantation Course a par 72."

But in the eyes of Immelman, the wider issue here is properly rolling back the golf ball on the PGA Tour. 

The 2008 Masters champion replied: "Or….just hear me out….or we could just have a proper rollback and these holes could be played as they were originally designed? Just a thought."

Six-time European Tour winner and now Sky Sports Golf commentator Tony Johnstone agreed with Immelman's sentiments. 

Only the Zimbabwean considers a rollback of 5% in two years time will still not be enough to prevent players from overpowering historic golf courses that have stood the test of time. 

Johnstone tweeted: "Well said. The proposed 5% rollback of the ball in 2027 is an embarrassment to the sport. 

"Governing bodies are NOT doing their job of protecting the game. 

"If they were serious they’d have started at 20% but fear of litigation by manufacturers has them quaking in their boots."

Related: How will the golf ball rollback in 2027 affect you?

According to the new proposed rule by golf's governing bodies, the R&A and USGA, golf balls will be tested by a robot at a swing speed of 125 mph in 2027 and they must not exceed 317 yards in total distance in order to conform.

This distance will equate to a 13-15-yard loss for the longest hitters in the game, which works out at roughly 5%.

Where do you stand on the golf ball going too far in 2025? 

Do PGA Tour events where the scoring is crazy low need a re-think? 

Or do you enjoy seeing a birdie fest? 

Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic Facebook page. 

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