The test would not change for the golf balls used for recreational play, but the balls used under this new proposed test for elite competition could result in a distance decrease of at least 15-20 metres, perhaps more.
In a wide-ranging interview, Martin Slumbers has spoken about whether Cameron Smith and other LIV golfers will be able to play in next year’s Open at Royal Liverpool.
R&A officials announced overnight the acquisition of land for an undisclosed sum in a mixed-use development called “St Andrews West”, roughly a mile south-west of the R&A clubhouse.
The R&A’s not-so-subtle stiff-arming of the defectors – there are 23 players in the field who have either played in a LIV event or committed to doing so in the future – began before the week even started.
Rather than wait for questions, Slumbers addressed the Saudi-backed series directly in his opening remarks and did so in the most strongly worded statement of any leader of an organisation overseeing a men’s Major championship.
The first groups of golfers have been revealed for The R&A Celebration of Champions but Australian legend Greg Norman won’t be one of them after the R&A confirmed it told the LIV Golf commissioner he won’t be welcome at the 150th Open festivities.
The championship is part of the UK government’s “events research program”, which is designed to measure the level of transmission when large crowds gather and, in turn, hopefully open up events like Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and The Open to more and more spectators.
Almost a year on from having to cancel the Open Championship at Royal St George’s, the R&A is currently planning three events – no crowd, limited crowd, unrestricted crowd – for 2021.
Australian Golf Digest
