Golf’s ruling bodies clash with pros over plans to reduce golf ball distance

Some of the world’s top professional golfers slammed plans by golf’s ruling bodies to impose restrictions on the distance that golf balls can travel during elite tournaments.

US PGA champion Justin Thomas and former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau both publically voiced opposition to the move proposed by the R&A, and the United States Golf Association USGA). The plans have also been met with criticism from Titleist, a leading manufacturer of golf balls.

The governing bodies of golf are proposing the use of a “tournament ball” for professional and elite amateur competitions, which would not travel as far as the current balls used in the game. The rationale behind this proposal is to address concerns that the increasing distance that golf balls can travel is making some courses obsolete, and that this is threatening the integrity and viability of the sport.

However, many…