Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ewan Murray

‘Ambulance chasers and alarmists’: USGA chief slams critics of new golf ball rules

Rickie Fowler plays his shot from the 12th tee during the second round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Course in Nassau, Bahamas, last week
Rickie Fowler is among the players unenamoured by the new rules, describing them as a ‘huge step back’. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

One of golf’s key decision‑makers has castigated “ambulance chasers and alarmists” who will criticise plans to limit the distance leading players can hit tee shots.

New rules announced on Wednesday by the R&A and the US Golf Association come after their insistence that shot length must be controlled, partly on the grounds of course sustainability. Opposition has been voiced by equipment manufacturers and some leading professionals. Golf’s latest civil war will continue to play out over its most fundamental object: the golf ball itself.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.