The Telegraph

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Participant demand motion to curb placing distance at Augusta

After hitting the opening ceremonial drives at Augusta on the primary day of the 84th Masters, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Participant used their legendary standing to demand motion from the sport’s governing our bodies to cease the ball going to this point. In an impassioned set of pleas that can certainly make the R & A and US Golf Affiliation sit up and take discover as the space problem intensifies, Participant expressed his fears that except one thing was accomplished, execs could be hitting 500-yard drives. Nicklaus is adamant that the R & A and USGA will quickly introduce a reined-back ball, though claims to not know the specifics. The subsequent stage of the R & A’s and USGA’s Distance Insights Undertaking has been delayed till March, as a result of pandemic, however they’re then anticipated to hurry up the method. Fred Ridley, the Augusta chairman, stated on Wednesday: “We’re hopeful with the research which were ongoing for a while that we’re coming near a name to motion.” Nicklaus concurred. “I consider they in all probability would have introduced it again this 12 months if it wasn’t for Covid, or not less than they’d have considered it or acquired critical about bringing it again,” he stated. “Each the USGA and the R & A stated they’re critical about it. They must make some adjustments with it, in any other case all of the outdated golf programs, all of the technique and every little thing else that you simply’ve had on golf programs, is gone. It doesn’t make any sense in any way.” Participant went additional, portray an virtually apocalyptic image. “That is one thing Jack and I’ve been advocating for I don’t understand how lengthy,” he stated. “They’ve acquired to chop the ball again, and they’re going to. In any other case they’re going to drive this primary inexperienced at Augusta. Actually, [Bryson] DeChambeau, if it was not this moist climate, if it was agency, he’d drive it on the inexperienced, and take a three-wood and put it on the third inexperienced. “We’re seeing issues we by no means considered, and we’re in our infancy. You’ve acquired gamers coming alongside that can carry the ball previous the place DeChambeau finally ends up now. I stated 20, 25 years in the past that gamers could be hitting the ball 400 yards, and I used to be scoffed at. Now I don’t understand how far the ball can go, I don’t know what the restrict could also be, however don’t be stunned for those who see them hit it 500 yards as a result of these guys are so large and so sturdy, it’s scary.” The massive impediment is the specter of litigation from the equipment-makers. “Bifurcation” was regarded as the favoured choice, with the R & A and USGA collectively publishing a survey hinting that the notion of various guidelines for the beginner {and professional} video games is on the desk. “No, they’ll change it for everyone,” Nicklaus stated. “They don’t need to bifurcate golf balls. I don’t know what they’re creating, however my guess it’s a ball that the sooner the club-head velocity, the development is much less as you go down. In case you swing at 125 miles an hour, you’ll be restricted to this distance. In case you swing at 100 miles an hour, you received’t lose as a lot distance. In case you go to 90, you received’t lose hardly any distance.” Nicklaus was additionally requested concerning the American election, however declined to speak about it. Nicklaus gave President Trump a ringing endorsement a couple of weeks in the past, advising fellow People to vote for him over Joe Biden. Nevertheless, when requested if Trump ought to now settle for defeat graciously, Nicklaus replied: “I believe I’ve stated sufficient about that. I don’t assume that is the place for politics.”