All articles tagged with #usga
Two-time major champion Tony Jacklin criticizes the sport’s evolution, blaming the USGA and The R&A for changes to equipment and the ball, while also taking aim at LIV Golf; he says golf has strayed from the game he knew, hints at stepping back, notes a looming 2030 ball rollback as a potential fix, and argues LIV’s model was contrived and financially unsustainable.
At the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, Joaquin Niemann was assessed a two-stroke penalty for serious misconduct after throwing his sand wedge in frustration following a misplayed shot; he said he wasn’t proud of the act and argued the penalty was excessive, while his team contested the local-rule application. Niemann rebounded with a 65 in Round 2 and stood at three over entering Saturday, as the ruling sparked ongoing debate about consistency in enforcement and accountability in golf's behavior rules.
Shinnecock Hills on Long Island remains a landmark U.S. Open venue, having hosted the championship five times since 1896 and producing memorable moments amid fierce conditions and controversial setups. From Pavin’s 1995 win to Mickelson’s 2004 controversy and Koepka’s 2018 triumph, the course has long tested players and officials alike. For the 2026 Open, the USGA plans a measured ramp‑up in firmness and speed, wider fairways, and vigilant water management to avoid past missteps while preserving the course’s authentic challenge, as players push for a fair test rather than gimmickry.
USGA launches Rules AI in a pilot phase—a data-verified, 'confidence-first' AI tool built with Deloitte to provide instant, official Rules of Golf answers via the GHIN app, with phased club rollouts to Allied Golf Associations and plans to expand to all GHIN users by spring 2027 and later to other golf apps.
Cameron Young is reportedly using a Titleist Pro V1x Double Dot ball that would likely conform under the USGA/R&A’s planned ball rollback, a change intended to curb elite distance and possibly implemented around 2028–2030; the move has sparked debate about its effects on players, even as Young continues to post strong results.
Bryson DeChambeau was puzzled by a post-round question about his USGA-approved 3D-printed 5 iron after posting a 4-over 76 in the Masters’ first round. He explained the club’s curved face is designed to straighten some mis-hits and detailed the lengthy approval process (print time plus finishing) required by the USGA. He used the club on the seventh hole and said it was “great,” but his round slipped with a bunker mishap and a triple bogey on the 11th, leaving him nine strokes behind leaders after day one.
Masters chairman Fred Ridley endorsed the USGA/R&A plan to roll back elite players’ distance, stressing that failure is not an option and noting a potential 2030 all-player rollout; he argues the change preserves the game’s essence despite pushback from the PGA Tour and equipment makers, with recreational impact expected to be minimal while major championships navigate rule alignment and commercial interests.
Due to heavy rain and saturated conditions at Oakmont, the USGA is offering refunds to ticketed fans who choose not to attend, while the course remains playable and on schedule for the continuation of the golf tournament.
The LPGA and USGA have updated their gender policies, requiring players to be assigned female at birth or have transitioned before male puberty to compete in women's tournaments, starting in 2025. This decision, based on extensive research, aims to ensure competitive fairness while being inclusive of gender identities. The policy affects players like Hailey Davidson, who began transitioning in her 20s. The LPGA and USGA emphasize that the policy is science-based and aligns with similar policies in other sports.
The Memorial Tournament honored late golfer Grayson Murray, who died by suicide on May 25. Despite his passing, Murray remains in the Official World Golf Ranking, potentially affecting U.S. Open qualifications. The USGA has stated that Murray's spot will be returned to qualifying protocols, and he will be removed from the ranking criteria to ensure fair qualification for other players.
The U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club has proven to be an exceptionally tough test, with an 8-over-par cut line and only four players under par through two rounds. The challenging course setup, emphasizing the classic architectural elements of the William Flynn design, has led to high scores and numerous bogeys, double bogeys, and worse. The tournament has seen many top players miss the cut, highlighting the difficulty and fairness of the course. The USGA's approach to the setup has been praised for its execution, making the championship a true test of both mental and physical endurance.
Kevin Streelman leads the Valspar Championship with a 7-under 64, utilizing a new USGA-approved ball marker for alignment, while Kevin Roy trails with a 65. Streelman's 10 consecutive one-putt greens and birdies on all par 5s propelled him to the lead, as he filed down the marker's spike to meet regulations. Other notable performances include Carl Yuan's 66 and Jordan Spieth's 69, with challenging conditions expected for the next round.
The USGA and R&A have announced plans to roll back the distance golf balls travel, starting in 2028, in an effort to combat the increasing distances that threaten the sport's long-term sustainability. Professional golfers will have to use conforming balls from 2028, while amateurs will have until 2030. The USGA claims that the impact on recreational golfers will be minimal, with the average male golfer losing 3 to 5 yards off the tee and the average female golfer losing 1 to 3 yards. The decision has received mixed reactions, with some pros expressing concern for recreational players and others wanting to maintain their own length off the tee. The organizations also emphasized the need to continue testing drivers to prevent excessive speed and distance growth.
The USGA and R&A have announced a golf ball rollback that will reduce driving distances on the PGA Tour by an estimated nine to 15 yards starting in 2028. The new Overall Distance Standard (ODS) will increase the swing speed requirement for testing and adjust launch angles and spin rates. The decision was based on research among top PGA Tour players, and the ruling bodies expect the longest hitters to see a reduction of 13-15 yards in driving distance. The new standard will be adopted for recreational play in 2030, with minimal impact on average driving distances.
Golf's ruling bodies, the USGA and R&A, have announced changes to golf ball testing to address the consistent gains in distance off the tee, which they believe are detrimental to the game. The new testing standards, effective from 2028 for tour and elite golf and 2030 for recreational golfers, involve a club swung at 125 mph, a spin rate of 2,200 rpm, and a launch angle of 11 degrees. The changes are expected to result in the ball going up to 15 yards shorter for the longest hitters, with shorter distances for average tour pros, female tour players, and recreational golfers. The PGA Tour and PGA of America have expressed concerns about the proposed changes, while some players, like Keegan Bradley, have criticized the decision.