Golf star Jon Rahm has called for unity in the sport following the proposed distance changes supported by Rory McIlroy.
Following six years of research amid issues of courses being dominated by the power hitters, plans have been made to roll back the distances travelled by the balls. The R&A and the United States Golf Association, whose proposal focuses on ball specifications rather than club design, hope that new measures would see tee shots reduced by approximately 15 yards.
Rahm, along with the likes of Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and the equipment makers themselves are against the proposal. However, McIlroy claimed the changes would arrest golf’s “bomb and gouge” trend and restore the “integrity” of a sport in danger of becoming too one-dimensional.
But despite the polarising response to the proposals, the world no. 2 hopes everyone within the golfing will soon be singing from the same hymn sheet.
"I find it hard to believe as well that the majors would go completely against what the professional tours decide to do,” he said. “And if that were to happen, that would set a huge divide in the game that is just not good for anybody.
"So whatever they choose, hopefully it's unanimous and then we'll deal with it…. I do think we need to do everything we can to stay united.”
Understanding the Northern Irishman’s point of view, Rahm told Telegraph Sport: “I think Rory, to an extent, is right - the change would benefit the better player, especially the longer players.
“We kind of talked about it, and I would be hitting it 10 to 15 yards shorter, which would put me where I was in 2019, 2020 - and my golf game was pretty good back then as well. So I don't think it would be a big difference.” Both McIlroy and Rahm are currently competing at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the four-time major winner made it two wins from two after a sensational finish to his group match against Denny McCarthy in Texas.
He secured a two-hole win and now just requires a half from Friday's match with Keegan Bradley to progress to the knockout stages. "I feel like 12-18 is my stretch of the golf course where I can really exert my advantage over anyone I play with the length I have," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "It has served me well over the last few years and thankfully did so again today."
Rahm bounced back from Wednesday's 2&1 defeat to Rickie Fowler after going in front at the very first hole before cruising away from American Keith Mitchell on the back nine by winning three successive holes from the 11th.
Billy Horschel, who won this event two years ago, finished top of the 28-year-old’s pool and the pair will now meet in a winner-takes-all clash today.
"Not many pairings are going to have more electricity on the course than me and Billy combined so it should be a good one," Rahm said.
