"Should have happened a long time ago" – Tiger Woods backs USGA’s golf ball rollback move despite criticism
After Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods has now come out to back the United States Golf Association and R&A's proposed golf ball rollback. A backer of dialing down hitting distances in the professional game, the 15-time major champion said that the rollback "should have happened a long time ago."
Woods’ comment hints at his wish to ensure that classic golf courses don't become obsolete and are entertained by pros. The golfer also noted that the move would make the players more “athletic” and “faster.” It is pertinent to note that the legendary golfer made the comments just at Augusta National, where he is practising for the 2023 Masters.
Speaking about the USGA’s golf ball rollback move, Tiger Woods said, as quoted by Golf Monthly:
“I think this should have happened a long time ago.”
He added:
"If you do anything to the equipment, I don't think that you can change the size of the heads anymore, just because there's so many out there. But I still think that it's very much like baseball with aluminum bats and wooden bats. You can have a difference in the golf ball, and tennis has the same thing, you go to different events. They have different balls; the public doesn't really know that but the players do.”
Tiger says he's an 'advocate' of rolling back the golf ball.
"If you play in a pro event or have a P next to your name, you should be playing a pro ball."
Tiger Woods further explained:
“I've been of the position if you play in a pro event or you have a P next to your name, you should be playing a pro ball. Now, that was my opinion on it. If you have an A next to your name and you're playing an amateur event, you should use an amateur ball. But you're an amateur playing a pro event, now that's where the transition can be had, where you can start, I wouldn't say rolling the game back, but you can start slowing it down because we're just not able to create enough property out there.”
Tiger Woods claims the golf ball rollback would benefit the pros
Tiger Woods went on to explain his stance on the matter and how the move would affect the game and its players for the better.
The ace golfer said:
"The guys are going to become more athletic. Everyone is going to get bigger, stronger, faster as the generations go on. Even if you roll the ball back and get a spinnier golf ball, guys will find you may go to a 4-degree driver and you may find a different shaft and you may have that one match up. That's what Jack was saying, the 384 was going too far.”
Tiger Woods stated that the “average number” used to be around 280 or 279 off the tee when he first started playing. However, this has significantly gone up over the years, with people hitting 320 with ease. The PGA Tour star noted that he wished to play the ‘old traditional’ golf with lower hitting distances.
Interestingly, Woods also noted that he "may be long gone" by the time the proposed move comes into effect. It is pertinent to note that the USGA had earlier announced that the proposed Model Local Rule is set to come into effect by January 2026. It’ll be exciting if a 50-year-old Woods will still be teeing off at the time.