Patrick Cantlay Launches Scathing Attack on Golf Ball Rollback Plan: ‘Don’t Think It Would Be Good For the Game’

Should there be a rollback policy? If you ask Patrick Cantlay, the answer is a big, fat No! The 31-year-old believes that the rule will create more harm than good and just cause turbulence in the golf world and the policy is taking away attention from much more pressing matters that are taking place within the sport. While PGA Tour pros like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have previously opined that a rollback policy would make golf a sustainable game, Cantlay begs to differ.

Last year, when the rule was announced by the USGA and R&A, Cantlay’s advice to the two golf governing bodies was to not only “shelf” the idea “but put it in a safe and lock it up so far away.” However, after two months and having seen so many records get broken, have his thoughts about the rollback changed?

The rollback policy is still a no-go for Patrick Cantlay 

The policy is being introduced to the gentleman’s game at a time when many of the lowest scores are being recorded in the golf world. Whether it be Joaquin Niemann’s 59 under at Mayakoba, Wyndham Clark’s 60 at Pebble Beach, or Cristobal Del Solar’s lowest round of 57.

Not only players but the PGA Tour has also previously spoken against the rule and one of their player directors could not agree more. At the Genesis Invitationa’s first-round post-match conference, Cantlay was asked whether his stance on the policy had changed as the distance of ball travel had significantly increased, looking at the above three records.

From his statement, it is clear that not much has changed in the PGA Tour pro’s stance on the matter, as he iterated, “Not at all. I don’t think it would be good for the game.” The reason it wouldn’t be beneficial? Cantlay argued that more people are playing golf than ever. Last year, more people played golf in the USA than ever before. He pressed, “I think that’s fantastic and I know it’s growing worldwide as well. That should be the emphasis.”

It’s not only Cantlay but many other PGA Tour pros who also vocalized their disapproval of the new policy. For instance, Justin Thomas thought that the USGA’s decision on the matter was rather self-severing, and Sam Burns labeled the rule “silly. Although Cantlay’s thoughts partly reciprocated what Tiger Woods had pointed out about the rollback policy in December 2023.

Tiger Woods wants a small change in the rollback policy

Woods had been playing professional golf for nearly three decades, and as a veteran and one of the most experienced golfers of the time, his thoughts on such matters hold a lot of significance. And Mr.T thinks there should be a rollback rule but here is the catch: the 15-time major champ wants it to be applied to only pro players.

Read More: “Everyone Loves Me”: Patrick Cantlay’s Gutsy Attitude During the ‘Hatless’ Turmoil Gets Revealed by His Ryder Cup Teammate

At the Albany GC, Woods shared that “if you have an ‘A’ next to your name and you’re playing an amateur event, you should use an amateur ball,” as reported by Golf.com. However, the governing bodies will be executing the policy for both pros and amateurs. However, Woods’s statement also supports the other rule proposed, which is bifurcation. The legendary golfer was also in support of bifurcation and was on board for letting pros and recreational players use different equipment.

His sentiments were echoed by Rory McIlroy as well when he said, “I don’t understand the anger about golf ball rollback,” further assessing that a bifurcation would be better for the game. While the PGA Tour pros stay split on the matter, what do you think about the rollback policy? Tell us in the comments!

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