Golf’s governing body, the USGA and R&A, made a calculated proposal on March 14, 2023. The suggestion mentioned restrictions on the distance that a golf ball travels. To test the equipment, reductions in the driving distance of approximately 15 yards would be made. These bodies strongly hinted at the application of this new rule in major tournaments like the U.S. Open and the Open Championship. 

Many star players majorly opposed this suggestion. The rule would apply majorly to elite players and this bifurcation has added to the disfavor of the change. The likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Justin Thomas, and others are backed this time by PGA Tour legend, Rickie Fowler.

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Rickie Fowler believes the new rule can ultimately hurt the game

Rickie Fowler, in his press conference on Wednesday at the 2023 Wells Fargo Championship, clearly showed his dislike for the new golf ball rollback rule. He focused on how he is sticking to the majority of the players who are siding against this proposition.

His response was to strictly state, “I don’t like it.” To strengthen this statement he added the reasons for his stance. The 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Champion mentioned, “I mean a lot of different reasons. I mean the bifurcation. I don’t like it. Another, obviously manufacturers. To create new products between golf balls equipments, that is going to be a lot of money in research and development, engineering and obviously producing.”

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He commented on who will be most affected if this new direction is applied. “They are not going to take that hit. That’s ultimately going to go to the consumers“. The division between the elites and the amateurs of the game added to his dislike for the rule. The former Waste Management Phoenix Open winner believed that the rollback weighed heavily on the negative points than the positives. He ended his statement on this topic by saying, “It’s gonna ultimately hurt the game.”

Despite major opposition to the new rule, some professionals support the idea

Initially, as the statement was released by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the R&A, golfers took their stand one by one. Among many oppositions to the ruling, Rory McIlroy pulled apart and supported the new rollback rule. He believed the change to be a good thing for the game. The legendary Tiger Woods shared a similar opinion. He advocated the proposition and believed that it was long due.

Fowler, however, didn’t deter from calling out the problems this rule can create. In addition to mentioning his reasons, he said that the majority of the players aren’t supporting the rollback. Four-time major championship winner Rory was the only player that he knew who supported the replacement. Ultimately, the Pro player implied that the rule might eventually damage the essence of the game.

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Do you stand with Fowler and his reasons? What do you think of this new rule and the bifurcation it will create?