New golf chief starts tenure with a bang: "Time to hit the pause button"

The PGA of America's new chief executive has called for golf's rulemakers to 'hit the pause button' on the ball rollback, according to a report. 

Derek Sprague replaced Seth Waugh on 18 January. 

Waugh decided to walk away after his contract ended and in an interview with Golfweek didn't rule himself out of putting himself forward for the top job with PGA Tour Enterprises. 

The 65-year-old also lifted the lid on what U.S. players really said about being paid to compete in the Ryder Cup. 

As for Sprague, he has doubled down on the PGA of America's position regarding limiting how far the golf ball will travel. 

He told Golf Digest their position is 'getting stronger now as we get closer'. 

Sprague previously revealed PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan is also against the proposals. 

"I don't know one recreational golfer that wants to hit it shorter," he told Golf Digest. 

"I don't think we want 30 or 40 million golfers to go out and have to not only buy new golf balls, but now buy new equipment to match the new golf ball. 

"So it really puts a burden on the recreational player."

Sprague said he wanted to speak to new R&A boss Mark Darbon. 

Darbon replaced Martin Slumbers last November. 

Sprague continued: "My point is, I think it's time to just hit the pause button, bring the leaders together with the governing bodies, and get us all around the table.

"What problem are we trying to solve and let's solve it."

The United States Golf Association and R&A officially confirmed the rollback in December 2023.

Professional players will start using new golf balls from 2028 and amateurs will follow two years later. 

The R&A and USGA say they want to protect courses that are not long enough to cope with today's drives of 340 yards and above. 

Rory McIlroy is the highest-profile player to support the changes. 

Equipment manufacturers, such as TaylorMade and Callaway, are strongly against the rollback. 

McIlroy previously said: "I don't understand the anger about the golf ball roll back.

"The people who are upset about this decision shouldn't be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn't want bifurcation.

"Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines, when, in reality, the game is already bifurcated.

"You think we play the same stuff you do?

"They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone. 

"Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but, yet again in this game, money talks."

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