Rory McIlroy has backed the unpopular shorter ball proposal and may use it in PGA events even if it is not required.
Golf's governing bodies have long been grappling with the fact that professional player's distance is increasing all the time and in 2020, they revealed that they were looking into the matter.
Last week, the Local Model Rule was announced, which would give tournaments the option to require the use of golf balls that travel around 15 yards shorter.
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The move has been slammed by many who feel it is punishing players that are able to hit the ball further. McIlroy however, who is one of the biggest hitters in the game, has a much more positive view and believes the introduction of the rule could be beneficial to his own game.
“Honestly, for me the major championships are the biggest deal, so if the PGA Tour doesn’t implement it, I might still play the Model Local Rule ball, because I know that that’ll give me the best chance and the best preparation leading into the major championships,” McIlroy told No Laying Up.
“And again, this is personal preference and personal opinion at this stage of my career.
“I know that I’m going be defined by the amount of major championships that I hopefully will win from now until the end of my career. And that’s the most important thing for me.
“If that gives me the best chance to succeed at the major championships and feel as prepared as I possibly can be, then that’s what I would do.”
McIlroy has in the past been critical of governing bodies proposing these changes to reduce driving distance. His stance has softened however with the news that the regulations would only impact elite PGA Tour level golfers and not amateur enthusiasts.
“I’m glad in this new proposal that they haven’t touched the recreational golfer. But for elite level play, I really like it,” McIlroy added.
“I know that’s a really unpopular opinion amongst my peers, but I think it’s going to help identify who the best players are a bit easier. Especially in this era of parity that we’ve been living in these past couple of decades.
“You guys [at No Laying Up] use the term ‘golf has been dumbed down a little bit at the elite level’, and I completely agree.
“I think you’re gonna see people with more well-rounded games succeed easier than what the game has become, which is a bit ‘bomb and gouge’ over these last few years.”
The issue of increasing distance off the tee has been a problem for golf in the past two decades in particular. Between 2003 and 2019, the average driving distance on the PGA Tour increased by almost eight yards, a figure which has continued to rise.
Courses have been lengthened in a response to the increased length, but improvements in club technology have negated these changes.
Many golfers have come out against the proposed changes to limit distance off the tee, with Justin Thomas labelling the decision as 'selfish' and 'stupid.'
Bryson de Chambeau is another who has reacted negatively to the proposal. The American famously tacked on muscle in an attempt to increase his distance off the tee in 2020 and soon transformed from a moderate hitter into one of the biggest in the game.
This evolution climaxed with de Chambeau blowing away the field at the 2020 US Open to win at a canter thanks to his 'pound and gouge' style of play.
While not all tournaments are expected to accept the ball changes, one such venue that is rumoured to be considering it is Augusta National, home of The Masters, the one major tournament that McIlroy has yet to win.
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