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 date. 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 difficulty intensifies, Participant expressed his fears that except one thing was completed, 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 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 yr if it wasn’t for Covid, or no less than they might have thought of 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 They must make some adjustments with it, in any other case all of the outdated golf programs, all of the technique and all the things else that you simply’ve had on golf programs, is gone.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 know the way lengthy,” he mentioned. “They’ve obtained to chop the ball again, and they’ll. In any other case they’re going to drive this primary inexperienced at Augusta. In actual fact, [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 can 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 know the way far the ball can go, I don’t know what the restrict could also be, however don’t be shocked in the event you see them hit it 500 yards as a result of these guys are so massive and so robust, it’s horrifying.” 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 mentioned. “They don’t wish to bifurcate golf balls. I don’t know what they’re creating, however my guess it’s a ball that the quicker the club-head velocity, 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 a couple of weeks in the past, advising fellow Individuals to vote for him over Joe Biden. Nevertheless, when requested if Trump ought to now settle for defeat graciously, Nicklaus replied: “I feel I’ve mentioned sufficient about that. I don’t suppose that is the place for politics.”