AUGUSTA, Ga. – All eyes within the golf world flip to Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership annually for the chairman’s annual press convention, and Wednesday’s version had its share of nuggets that have been certain to attract curiosity.
Chairman Fred Ridley started his press convention with about 10 minutes of ready feedback with a nod to lots of the sport’s hot-button matters, together with tempo of play and the continuing divide between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding. He additionally addressed, unprompted, the USGA and the R&A’s plan to roll again the golf ball beginning in January 2028 for professionals.
“As soon as once more, I’m right here reaffirming our assist of the governing our bodies and their efforts to handle the problem of distance. Collectively, the R&A and the USGA have been deliberative and collaborative on their efforts on this matter to reach at a call which was introduced in 2023,” Ridley stated.
It was not a shock Augusta Nationwide moved early to assist the governing our bodies and the rollback, however there was hypothesis that the PGA Tour and PGA of America should not in keeping with the rollback.
Ridley appeared to the touch on these issues in his opening remarks, stating that implementation in 2028 for professionals and 2030 for amateurs would require a united entrance.
“Implementation is the following problem, as all of us knew it will be. It’s vital for the nice of the sport that each one stakeholders work collectively as this concern evolves,” Ridley stated. “I’m inspired by the constructive and constructive discussions which can be geared toward efficiently implementing this necessary change.”
At this yr’s PGA Present in January, PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague reiterated that his affiliation doesn’t assist the roll again and stated, “It’s time to only hit the pause button.”
