

Any sport goes through change and evolution. This is the case with the golf too. Changes to the structure of the game are not alien to goolf. However, not all the changes are supported by players. Such changes tend to divide athletes within the sport.
Recently, there have been debates on how to combat the distance in golf. However, the recent announcement of the bifurcation golf ball rollback proposals has generated a lot of discussion. While numerous players are offering their opinions and proposals on the scheme, it surely has split the golfing community.
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Richard Mansell provides his opinions on the distance debate
There have been many suggestions on how to combat the distance debate. The suggestions include changes to the ball itself, an increase in the area of the rough,the tigthtening of the fairways, and the driver to be rolled back, among others. However, following his outstanding performance in the most recent Jonsson Workwear Open, DP World Tour player Richard Mansell has shared his ideas on how scores might be more heavily influenced.
If you shot -10 on the DP World tour this week, you finished in a tie for 46th on a really long golf course. You had to be -17 for four rounds to be in the top 10. That’s not the golf ball, it’s the course setup….. Pretty simple what needs to change 👀
— RICHARD MANSELL (@richardmansel14) March 26, 2023
Following the event, Mansell took to his Twitter handle and expressed his views. Mansell tweeted: “if you shot -10 on the DP World Tour this week, you finished in a tie for 46th on a really long golf course. You had to be -17 for four rounds to be in the top 10. That’s not the golf ball, it’s the course set up….. Pretty simple what needs to change.”
Mansell surely is on the opposite of the rollback in equipment. However, Mansell isn’t the only golfer to discuss potential future course layouts as PGA Tour player Michael Kim also tweeted: “I truly am amazed at the grow the rough brigade on Twitter. It’s such a bad idea.”
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How are golf players taking the proposed bifurcation
Not only few but multiple professionals have showed their opposition to the proposed bifurcation. The players who voiced their disdain included the likes of Bryson DeChambeau who slammed the idea as “atrocious“, whilst Justin Thomas said the proposals are “so bad for the game of golf”.

via Imago
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MARCH 11: A close up of the tee marker on the 18th hole as seen on March 11, 2023, during the second round for THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire GOLF: MAR 11 PGA, Golf Herren – THE PLAYERS Championship Icon230311016. Image Courtesy: IMAGO
However, Rory McIlroy is the only player to publicly support the equipment rollback. The four-time Major winner expressed his support for the idea to shorten the ball distance in professional competition. However, there has been mostly criticism to the equipment rollback idea.
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What are your views on the rollback in equipment? How do you think it will affect the game of golf? Do let us know in the comments below.
Watch this story: Karma Hits Rory McIlroy as the Golf World Degrades Tour Loyalist’s ‘Greatest’ Drive Over His Controversial Ball Rollback Statement
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