“Lot of Ambulance Chasers and Alarmists”: USGA CEO Shuts Down Ball Rollback Critics With Sharp Remarks

PGA Tour pros and other golf professionals, including Rory McIlroy, analysts, experts, golf coaches, and fans… everyone had different opinions regarding the new rollback rule. While some supported it, many were and are still showing their back towards it. 

The same treatment is expected from the golf world as the USGA and the R&A finally released an official memo explaining its details. However, USGA Chief Executive Officer Michael (Mike) Whan didn’t want to encourage such discussions and made his intentions clear in a television interview. 

“There’s going to be a lot of ambulance chasers and alarmists to make this seem so much worse than it really is,” Whan said as he faced the media soon after the rollback memo release. According to him, the organizations have run the policy through an “independent, third-party ball expert, three different ball companies.” 

He claims that two of the companies agreed to their proposition. “So I don’t want a few loud voices that are trying to get more clicks and more viewers,” he further added, “and more phone calls to drive a frenzy that quite frankly just isn’t based in fact.”

What is ball rollback, and how will it affect the golfers? 

Rollback or bifurcation means the golf ball will be scaled back to ensure it does not go too far, so there is no absolute need to make modifications to the golf course. The new rule will not just need golfers’ understanding but the apparel manufacturer’s as well. According to the new rule, the longest hitter among the men’s professional golfers would lose 13-15 yards, whereas LPGA and LET professionals would lose up to 5-7 yards. 

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Notably, the rue will be effective in the professional golfing world in 2028 and 2030 for everyone else. While some pros like Rory McIlroy accepted the rollback wholeheartedly, many, including

Keegan Bradley and Justin Thomas, showed their detest.

Bradley argued that while the policy won’t affect the pro world as much, hitting the ball shorter in amateur golf is “monstrous.”  Furthermore, he added, “I can’t think of anything more stupid than that.”

Ever since the USGA and R&A proposed the idea of rollback, many were against this idea. Hence, Mike Whan took extra measures to avoid any other negativity from the golf world with the latest statements.

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