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Reuters

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Reuters

In an evolving and dynamic global climate where changes are the norm, golf does not remain far behind in employing changes and evolving the game with time. They say that rules are meant to be broken. Apparently, the world of golf believes in not only breaking these rules sometimes, but also changing and re-adapting them to the latest requirements and realizations, if need be.

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The game of golf underwent a multitude of changes back in 2019 when the USGA announced several changes and additions to its rule book.

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Gary Player presents his strong defense against a change of rule

Updating the rule book seems to be a process with no end. Perfection remains to be a deception, however. As the game progresses, the need for new changes will be realized. Hence, expecting it to remain stagnant is definitely not an option.

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Clearly, one of the greatest golfers of all time, Gary Player, is well aware of the said fact and does not support the idea of a stagnant system.

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Although, one of these rules did not strike a chord with him. Gary’s reaction was termed an overstatement. But, he did make sense to a distinct sect of people.

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The winner of a total of 160 professional events had his opposition centered around the new rule revolves around the choice that is to be made while putting to either remove the flagstick from the hole or not.

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However, the changed and newly constituted rule Rule 13.2a(2) changes the earlier dilemma in an attempt to save golfers time. It dissolves the previous idea of having a penalty for the same.

Gary does not agree with this change. He even went on to term it as the ‘worst rule ever invented’ in the multiverse of golf. Player completely displayed his disagreement over the issue. The matter is of the permission to keep flagsticks in the holes.

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He said, “I think the worst rule ever invented is leaving the pin, the flag in the hole,” he said. “You get these guys with their big hands, and they go to take the ball out of the cup, and they squeeze their hand in between the cup and the flag. They pull the cup up, and every cup you play now is raised.”

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He is not alone in his criticism. Several organizations have also come to his support as it is also damaging to the holes on the golf course.

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Even though differences of opinion exist. If the rule will stand the test of time or not will be a story for another time. What one can keep in mind is that solutions to the same are being drafted.

What are your thoughts on Gary Player’s opinion on the issue? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Written by

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Daiemah Malik

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Daiemah Malik is a Senior Golf Writer at EssentiallySports. Thanks to many evenings on the course, driving and putting alongside her family, Daiemah is able to give her loyal readers a perspective of both a player and a writer. Her area of expertise is technical core sport pieces like analyzing golfers’ performances or predicting how weather will affect an event and those playing. An ace journalist, Daiemah has written extensively about her idol, Nelly Korda. When not writing about the sport, she enjoys indulging in spirited debates, especially about her hidden forte, politics.

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Edited by

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Manaal Siddiqui

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