If this week’s US Open avoids the pratfalls that befell the 2004 and 2018 editions at Shinnecock Hills – when baked-out greens created unplayable hole locations that impacted the integrity of the championship – it will be because of a decision Bodenhamer and the rest of the championship committee made last Friday when faced with a weather forecast they hoped would never come.
While golf’s ruling bodies mull over whether to delay the timeline for the start of the golf ball rollback, USGA chief executive Mike Whan indicated that the rulemaker has been collaborating with manufacturers to study prototypes to clarify exactly what these new shorter golf balls will and won’t do.
This latest announcement indicates that golf’s ruling bodies are considering comments to do away with the two-year interim period, implementing the rollback rule for both elite golfers and average golfers starting in 2030.
Over the past week, the Pittsburgh area has received upwards of 250 millimetres of rain, according to USGA officials – and even more in the proceeding weeks.
Whan was the LPGA’s commissioner from 2010-2021 and had a very successful stint, and some in golf have been referring to 39-year-old Kessler “a young Mike Whan”.
Glover also wondered why testing couldn’t be universal, which he thinks is especially important now with fields at majors particularly involving many players from different tours.
The explanation for the increase was notable for what it means in the context of what the USGA is trying to do overall in elevating its biggest championship.
The USGA has expanded from running three events annually to 15, including championships for all age ranges, team events, international matches and a national competition for adaptive golfers.
Woods joins fellow Jones winners Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Francis Ouimet, Mickey Wright, Patty Berg, Annika Sorenstam and US president George H.W. Bush.
Thomas Pagel, chief governance officer for the USGA, spoke to Golf Digest on the topic of why the decision to include a rollback for all levels of golfers.
Australian Golf Digest
