After Blasting It as a ‘PGA Tour Issue’, Annika Sorenstam Raises Concerns Over Golf Ball Rollback Yet Again

The golf world was hit with a lot of dissent when the Universal Golf Ball Rollback was announced. Among those who were against the policy was Annika Sorenstam, who questioned the same. But she did so with a unique twist—none other than arguing how the issue of driving distance is more of a “PGA Tour” problem. Interestingly, the golfer still has more to say!

In a press conference ahead of the upcoming Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, the professional decided to share her thoughts on the policy. However, while opening up, she made sure to highlight the impact it would have on the game, all the while terming it as “unfortunate” no less!

Annika Sorenstam opens up on the golf ball Rollback

“We need to do what’s good for the game,” replied Sorenstam when asked about the impact the new policy would have on golf. She contrasted the PGA Tour and the women’s circuits once again before mentioning how the rollback doesn’t need to be done “for the women.” Moreover, recounting a conversation she had with Callaway, the golfer explained how the “driving distance” hasn’t changed that much when “compared to the men.”

Adding on, the 53-year-old talked about how “people enjoy” playing the “same golf ball” while alluding to how that ‘happy’ situation would change if bifurcation were to take place. Continuing with her response, she also divulged how the PGA Tour would be witnessing “the big difference” before indicating how there would be many athletes who are “not happy”  about the “unfortunate” decision.

Nevertheless, the golfer was sure there would undoubtedly be results stemming from the policy. Commenting on the effect it would have on the players, she said, “The athletes are going to find ways to get better, stronger, and continue to do it,” before expressing how “unfortunate” it is if players who work hard are to get punished because of the same.

Well, it wasn’t the first time she raised worries about the new rules set to change the intricacies of the sport played on different levels. However, earlier, when it was announced, the Swede was of the suggestion that bifurcation would have been preferred instead of the wholesale rollback.

Sorenstam’s concerns over the new policy

The 3-time U.S. Women’s Open champ once said, “The game is not the same for amateurs and professionals” when the USGA and R&A announced the policy. Moreover, she even pointed out how an amateur in the game has never once mentioned a golf course as being short. Nevertheless, back then and now, she was and still believes that driving distance is a problem on the PGA Tour and not on the women’s circuit.

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But even so, she has been against the whole rule change. The 72-time LPGA Tour champ had earlier mentioned how there are many other ways in which a course can be made difficult instead of rolling back. “It’s not just the distance,” said the pro before continuing, “it’s the greens and the rough and more narrow fairways where you have to have more strategy than just bombing of the tee.”

Sorenstam sure does have a point, if you think about it. But if all of that is to be ignored and the policy is to proceed as it is, then it truly is “unfortunate” for those who worked hard. Well, we can only wait and see!

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