The Telegraph

Jack Nicklaus and Gary Participant demand motion to curb hanging 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 date. In an impassioned set of pleas that may certainly make the R & A and US Golf Affiliation sit up and take discover as the gap challenge intensifies, Participant expressed his fears that except one thing was finished, professionals can 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 following stage of the R & A’s and USGA’s Distance Insights Undertaking has been delayed till March, because of the pandemic, however they’re then anticipated to hurry up the method. Fred Ridley, the Augusta chairman, mentioned on Wednesday: “We’re hopeful with the research which have been ongoing for a while that we’re coming near a name to motion.” Nicklaus concurred. “I consider they most likely would have introduced it again this yr if it wasn’t for Covid, or at the very least they might have considered it or obtained severe about bringing it again,” he mentioned. “Each the USGA and the R & A mentioned they’re severe 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 They must make some adjustments with it, in any other case all of the outdated golf programs, all of the technique and every part else that you just’ve had on golf programs, is gone.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 mentioned. “They’ve obtained to chop the ball again, and they’re going to. In any other case they’re going to drive this primary inexperienced at Augusta. The truth is, [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 obtained gamers coming alongside that may carry the ball previous the place DeChambeau finally ends up now. I mentioned 20, 25 years in the past that gamers can 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 in case you see them hit it 500 yards as a result of these guys are so huge and so sturdy, it’s horrifying.” The massive impediment is the specter of litigation from the equipment-makers. “Bifurcation” was considered the favoured possibility, with the R & A and USGA collectively publishing a survey hinting that the notion of various guidelines for the novice {and professional} video games is on the desk. “No, they’ll change it for everyone,” Nicklaus mentioned. “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 pace, the development is much less as you go down. For those who swing at 125 miles an hour, you’ll be restricted to this distance. For those who swing at 100 miles an hour, you received’t lose as a lot distance. For those who 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 just a few 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 mentioned sufficient about that. I don’t assume that is the place for politics.”