Not long ago, the golf world was rocked by a major announcement: the USGA and R&A were planning to roll back the golf ball, sparking a heated debate among golf’s top governing bodies, manufacturers, and players. Recently, Derek Sprague, the new CEO of the PGA of America, has come out swinging – just four days into his tenure – reaffirming the organization’s opposition to the proposed rollback. He’s citing a lack of consultation and conflicting data on distance, and it’s clear that this issue is far from settled, and now one of the most authoritative persons in the golf world is speaking out against the unexpected change.

In the latest YouTube episode of the No Laying Up Podcast, USGA CEO Mike Whan expressed his disappointment with the PGA Tour’s leadership, specifically Jay Monahan and Seth Waugh, for reneging on their previous agreements regarding the rollback of golf ball distances. “It’s disappointing”, he said. ” I remember Seth said something that I’ll never forget, which is, ‘Hey Mike, you know we know you’re walking into this situation if you allow us to be part of this process and have a seat at the table and listen to us, we realize that you’re never going to be able to come up with a solution that we’re all going to like.'”

Waugh’s statement underscored the need for industry leaders to work together to find solutions that, while not perfect, would maintain unity within the golf community.“We’ll have to work to kind of get our memberships and our teams to kind of get to those solutions, and hopefully, we’ve had a voice in those solutions.” Perhaps most notably, Waugh’s parting words, as recalled by Whan, offered a guiding principle for industry leaders. “When you can, try to incorporate our change, and when you have to make a tough decision, and all of us will cringe at some part of your decision, at least we’ll stay unified as an industry.”

Whan’s frustration stems from the fact that the PGA Tour’s leadership had initially agreed to work together to find solutions but ultimately took a different stance. He noted that even the PGA of America had issued a statement appreciating the collaborative process, saying, “We appreciate the collaborative process, we feel like we’ve had a voice in the process along the way.” Whan also mentioned the PGA of America acknowledged seeing some of their input reflected in the final decisions, specifically in terms of not rushing to implement changes, taking a longer time to bring them to the marketplace, and minimizing the impact.

But why did the golf leaders pull back their ladders on the rollback policy?

Why did Derek Sprague take a stand against the rollback policy?

The 2025 golf season kicked off with a bang, and Derek Sprague, the new CEO of the PGA of America, was right in the thick of it. He didn’t waste any time sharing his thoughts on the proposed rollback of golf ball distances, a move that had been brewing for a while. The USGA and R&A had suggested a rollback regulation to limit how far golf balls could fly, citing concerns that modern equipment was making the game too easy. But Sprague wasn’t having it. “I don’t like bifurcations,” he said, worried that different rules for pros and amateurs could split the sport.

For Sprague, it was all about keeping golf unified and true to its roots. He believed that introducing different rules could create unnecessary divisions and water down the game’s purity. “I am against the rollback policy both personally and professionally”, he had said. Sprague’s stance was likely influenced by his experience as a former PGA of America president, a role he held from 2014 to 2016. During his tenure, he had a front-row seat to the sport’s inner workings and developed a deep understanding of its complexities. With his years of experience and deep love for the sport, Sprague’s stance sparked a lively debate among golf fans and insiders. What are your thoughts on the matter? Let us know in the comment section below!