“It’s so bad”, Justin Thomas criticizes the R&A and USGA for their new proposal to modify golf balls and limit distances
Justin Thomas seemingly unhappy with the new proposed changes for golf.
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Credits: Sky Sports
Justin Thomas is unhappy with the new proposed changes for golf balls and limiting distances by R&A and the USGA. Ahead of the Valspar Championship today, Thomas criticized the new plan that would affect elite golfers’ play on the field.
The new proposal changes were announced this Tuesday as the two governing bodies of golf would soon force golfers to use modified golf balls, limiting the drive distances. These new changes, which are expected to be implemented only in 2026, would reduce driver distance by about 15 yards. These changes would only be applicable for the top golfers and not the amateurs.
On these new changes, Thomas says, “You’re trying to create a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. It’s so bad for the game of golf.” Justin Thomas thinks that golf should have its natural progression in evolution and not be changed through arbitrary rule implementation.
Justin Thomas slams R&A and USGA for new proposed changes
As ESPN reports, the PGA Tour players have been averaging more than 297 on drives this season. As both USGA and R&A report, these distances have been increasing by more than 1 yard per year. The golf associations of both countries believe that the proposed changes would help keep golf sustainable for the years to come.
Mike Wahn, the CEO of USGA, says to ESPN, “If we simply do nothing, we pass that to the next generation and to all the golf course venues around the world for them to just simply figure out.“
Even if the PGA Tour does not adopt these new changes, the pro golfers will come under these new rules’ scrutiny twice a year, at the British Open and the U.S. Open. Justin Thomas further expresses his resentment saying, “So for two of the four biggest events of the year we’re going to have to use a different ball? Like, try to explain to me how that’s better for the game of golf. “And they’re basing it off the top 0.1% of all golfers. You know what I mean?”
Thomas further adds, “I don’t know how many of y’all consistently play golf in here, but I promise none of you have come in from the golf course and said, you know, I’m hitting it so far and straight today that golf’s just not even fun anymore. Like, no, that’s not — it’s just not reality.”
These new changes in golf have been argued to fit in with the ever-evolving nature of the game. Arguing about the same, Justin Thomas says, “People are running faster, so what are they just going to make the length of a mile longer so that the fastest mile time doesn’t change? Or are they going to put the NBA hoop at 13 feet because people can jump higher now?”
He further adds, “Like, no. It’s evolution. We’re athletes now. Like, we’re training to hit the ball further and faster and if you can do it, so good for you.” All in all, pro golfers are worried about the fact that golf would lose its natural progression over the years when rule changes are forced upon players.
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