Remember how the 2025 Masters started? There was heavy rain during the Monday practice round, which caused a closure of the gates to close. While the visible effects of the rain died down as the tournament got closer, there was still an impending problem: the mud balls. This happens on surfaces that are wet. When the ball lands hard on a surface, the mud can attach itself to the ball, causing a few problematic strokes, especially with the approach. Quail Hollow was also the setting for vicious rain early in the week, causing practice to be held behind closed doors. And just like the Masters, the rain could have a long-term effect on how the golf plays out. Jordan Spieth knows.

“My iron play killed me the last two days, and to be brutally honest with you, it was primarily mud balls. It’s just so frustrating because you can’t talk about them here. You’re not supposed to talk about them. Mud balls can affect this tournament significantly, especially when you get them a lot on 11 and 13. They’re just daggers on those two holes,” the three-time major winner added. As he prepares to strive and fight for a Career Grand Slam, Spieth might face the same dilemma. But can this issue be solved?

One way to resolve this would be the Preferred Lie. This is a rule used in some events where a ball that is lying in the fairway can be lifted, cleaned, and moved by 6 inches(not closer to the hole) in any direction. This rule was made to counteract the effect of weather conditions in the PGA Tour. However, to the shock of Spieth and other competing golfers, the PGA Championship organizing committee made a big decision.

The PGA of America explained that they do not plan to use preferred lies on the opening day of the second major at Quail Hollow. The statement read,“We do not plan to play preferred lies,” the PGA of America said in a statement Wednesday night. “The playing surfaces are outstanding and are drying by the hour. We are mowing the fairways this evening. We are looking forward to an exciting opening round to the 107th PGA Championship.”

The club has a SubAir system under the greens, which assists in extracting moisture from the putting surfaces. This means that there is the oddity of soft fairways and rather firm greens. The same was attested by Tony Finau, “You’re hitting from very wet turf and still seeing the ball bounce a good bit on the greens.’’ You can witness brief showers on Thursday morning, and then the forecast calls for no more rain until the possibility of showers on Saturday. Temperature, however, is expected to rise into the mid-to-upper 80s for Thursday and Friday.

The statement was received very cautiously by the fans who had the same concern as Jordan Spieth at Augusta.

Jordan Spieth gets support from the online community

One user put it very plainly for everyone to understand. The general playing surface, i.e., the grass, will not be the issue. It is what happens underneath that translates into problems. “Playing surfaces” is not the issue. It will be the mud under the turf and very likely resulting mud balls that cause issues. All good IMO, as everyone plays it the same, but not everyone agrees with that take.” The user replied.

Spieth is not the only golfer who has raised concerns at Augusta. Even Sergio Garcia brought it up during the 2009 tournament. “Even when it’s dry, you still get mud balls in the middle of the fairway. It’s too much of a guessing game.” The Spaniard had stated then. While the mud ball issue exists for everyone who plays, thereby not being an unfair advantage, it still compromises the quality of golf on display.

Some users took shots at the organizing committee for the lackadaisical attitude towards the potential issue that might come to be. One user stated, “No surprise (or common sense) that preferred lies will NOT be used in @PGAChampionship at a sodden Quail Hollow. Prepare for lots of “Mudball Teddy!” tomorrow,” while another replied, “PGA’s identity is gonna be mud balls.”

The mud creates a weight imbalance on the ball that makes it difficult to control. The worst part is that as more mud gets attached or falls off during the middle of a hole, the weight distribution changes. In a study conducted by Dr. Paul Wood, who had joined Ping in 2005, a drastic change can be noticed. A mud-less ball hit with a 4-iron at 95 mph goes nearly 220 yards when mud is applied. With mud on the left or right side, the distance reduces by more than 20 yards. The loss is a shocking 70 yards if the mud is in the back of the ball.

So just like one user put it, Thursday could be “mud balls mania” at Quail Hollow. More issues could see more players speak about it. However, one user hopes that the PGA of America has made the right decision. The user opined, “Don’t want to hear about mudballs for 2 days. Hope they’re right.”

What do you think of the situation with mudballs? Is that something the PGA Tour needs to address globally? Do you think Jordan Spieth can overcome this challenge and claim his Career Grand Slam?