‘Strange Relationship With The USGA’: Days After Scrutinized PGA Tour Meet, Pro Hits Back Over Bizarre Policy

The Model Local Rule from the USGA will go into effect in its entirety in January 2026. In elite competitions, this rule will restrict how far the golf ball can go.

The USGA, R&A, and members of the Player Advisory Council for the PGA Tour met to discuss this rule at length. The rationale behind the new rule, which may cause top athletes to have drives that are 20 to 25 yards shorter, was disclosed by the rule makers recently. Although a pro golfer wasn’t present during the meeting, he had a lot to say!

Former PGA Championship Winner gives his take on the new USGA proposed rule

At the Memorial Tournament right now, American professional golfer Keegan Bradley, is currently vying for the trophy and the $20 million prize money. To move up the leaderboard in Round 3, he recorded a total of nine birdies. Though he is having a gala time at the event, he continued to voice his opinions about the new proposed rule.

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This new regulation brought back vivid recollections of how the 2013 equipment adjustment by the USGA and R&A affected his playing. They typically forbade anchored putting. Although Bradley used a belly putter and won the PGA Championship in 2011, the club was outlawed in 2016.

He wasn’t at the meeting, but he had strong opinions about the rule. A snippet of his comments was posted by Golf.com on its official Twitter account.

“I have a really strange relationship with the USGA from the belly putter. I just feel like the USGA admits to making mistakes and then they punish the players for it,” Bradley said. “I don’t feel like it’s our fault that they think that the ball went too far or that they should have banned the belly putter.”

Impact of the golf ball rollback

The new rule that is being considered is intended to reduce distances by altering how balls are made. According to the updated regulations, golf balls must not travel farther than 320 yards when struck at a robot-controlled swing speed of 127 mph (up from 120 mph). This rule undoubtedly muddied the distinction between club golfers and professionals.

It not only frustrates some golfers, but it also gives manufacturers a pause. All of the current golf balls won’t be utilized in the professional game if the idea is approved, which will undoubtedly cost these producers a lot of money.

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What do you think about Bradley’s comment on the proposed rule? Let us know in the comments below.