Rory McIlroy has doubled down on his assertion that the new ball rules will make professional golf more entertaining. The Northern Irishman, who is a staunch bifurcation-backer, believes limiting the distances reached by golf balls will not impact the game at the elite level; rather it will bring back certain skills into the game that have gone missing.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the four-time Major winner said that not only from a skill-set point of view but even from an environmental perspective, the decision taken by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) has enough merit. The parent bodies are bringing about a change in the testing conditions for golf ball conformance.

Rory McIlroy cites environmental factor to support new ball rules

Under the change, a golf ball, when hit by a club at a speed of 125 miles per hour, can go no further than 320 yards. As of now, the speed limit for testing was set at 120 miles per hour for a distance of 320 yards. McIlroy had earlier voiced his support, posting on his X handle. In the interview, he said: “This conversation has been going on in golf for the last 20 years. Tiger (Woods) said a couple of days ago that the golf ball’s been getting faster ever since he came on tour, which is 1997.”

With the average driving distance increasing rapidly, the golf courses are getting longer and accounting for more acreage. “Is that sustainable?” McIlroy asked. More acreage means more water for maintenance. “There’s all these sort of environmental factors that come into it. I think that’s the biggest reason we should do this,” said the 34-year-old.

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He reiterated that the change will bring back some skills into the professional game “that have maybe been lost”; stressing that it will make the game at the top level “more entertaining to watch”. Another upside, according to him is that some “great classic courses” will come back into consideration.

Read more: What Is ‘Bifurcation’ and Why Does Rory McIlroy Support It?

“I think you’re going to see a different variety of games succeed. It’s not just going to be this bomb and gouge that we see,” said McIlroy. But as NUCLR GOLF posted a snippet of the interview on its X handle, the majority of the fans chose to attack the golfer.

Fans take mickey out of bomb comment

One comment even suggested that it was the PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan speaking wearing a mask. The fan also doubted that McIlroy had been played.

Another netizen asked him not to be too worried about the environment and stop supporting the rollback of the golf ball.

According to another golf enthusiast, McIlroy should take a cue from baseball, where juiced balls had increased viewership and compared it as being the same in golf.

One fan countered McIlroy’s comment of saying that it would be more interesting, saying that watching golfers bomb was the most interesting part of the sport.

McIlroy is topping the charts with regards to the driving distance this year and a golf follower observed that the player supporting the decision is based on his ability to hit longer than others.

Another fan criticized the golfer for protesting too much, although the post was borderline insulting. A tongue-in-cheek comment was made to roll back the driver.

One fan “booed” him outright, while another one advised him on the tee length, aiming a jibe at him.

A golf nerd felt that 10 yards of difference wouldn’t change shorter courses, while a fan accused McIlroy of playing the environmental card to his advantage.

The governing bodies of golf put forward a Model Local Rule (MLR) in March, giving tournaments the choice to use balls that would travel less. It could have led to bifurcation – one ball for elite players and a different one for the golfers at lower levels. However, it received opposition from some PGA Tour professionals and golf equipment manufacturers.

Watch this story: ‘Misleading’: PGA Tour Pro Lashes Out at Rory McIlroy as Golf Ball Rollback Debate Gets Heated