Rory McIlroy has offered his verdict on the controversial plans golf’s rule-makers are said to be considering to combat the game’s distance problem.
As he supported the contentious plans of the game to roll back the ball for both professional and amateur players, Rory McIlroy took a jab at golf manufacturers.
Although McIlroy, 34, doesn’t frequently post on social media, on December 3rd, the four-time major champion did just that.
His rant came after Golf Digest reported golf’s rule-makers, the R&A and USGA, will imminently be taking a huge step to combat golf’s distance problem.
Unsurprisingly, McIlroy has echoed the sentiments of Tiger Woods who stated he has always been for bifurcation in golf.
Tiger gives verdict on bifurcation
McIlroy wrote on X: “I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability.
“It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past two decades.
“The people who are upset about this decision shouldn’t be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn’t want bifurcation.
“The governing bodies presented us with that option earlier this year. Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines, when in reality, the game is already bifurcated.
“You think we play the same stuff you do? They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone.
“Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but yet again in this game, money talks.”
Of course, McIlroy received a fair bit of blowback in the comments from his critics.
One user put it to McIlroy that he got ‘lost in distance’ a few years ago when the Northern Irishman tried to emulate Bryson DeChambeau.
DeChambeau, memorably, bulked up to what he later described as an unhealthy weight as he tried to hit the ball farther.
McIlroy retorted that he realised hitting it longer wasn’t going to make him a better golfer.
The Ulsterman has always been for bifurcation.
The USGA and R&A previously tried to go down a different route to combat the distance issue.
The original proposal was for a “Modified Local Rule” that would be used for top-level players only, with recreational and amateur players allowed to play golf balls in use today.
McIlroy previously pointed to a conversation he had with Ian Hewitt, the chairman of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, that helped convince him the idea would be good.
In tennis, they slowed the ball down and made the grass much stickier.
“And then you fast forward three years from that and you’ve got Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal playing one of the greatest Wimbledon finals ever,” McIlroy said.
I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability. It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past 2 decades.
The people who are upset about this decision shouldn’t be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn’t want bifurcation. The governing bodies presented us with that option earlier this year. Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines, when in reality, the game is already bifurcated. You think we play the same stuff you do? They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone. Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but yet again in this game, money talks.