ORLANDO — In just his fourth day in office, PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague doubled down on earlier comments that he and the organization he newly heads will not support a rollback of the golf ball. Despite the USGA and R&A remaining steadfast that the new equipment standards that would reduce distance will begin to go into effect in 2028, Sprague’s comments to Golf Digest signal that the rollback is less than a certainty in his mind.
“We have our statement that said we were against the rollback, and then I guess I just happened to be the first one that verbalized it,” Sprague said, sitting in his PGA of America auxiliary office above the floor of the PGA Merchandise Show during its second day at the Orange County Convention Center. “So that’s our position, and it’s getting stronger now as we get closer.”
Sprague, who previously indicated on an appearance on Sirius XM Radio’s A New Breed of Golf that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan also opposes the new golf ball rules, voiced a sense of urgency to reframe the problem, and potential change the minds of the USGA and R&A. Moreover, he suggested that the PGA of America had not been adequately consulted during the process about the change to the test procedure for the Overall Distance Standard. That test determines whether a ball conforms to the Rules of Golf, and the change to it, announced by the USGA and R&A in December 2023, effectively would make nearly every golf ball played in elite competition non-conforming. That new test also would render the vast majority of top-selling balls non-conforming, as well.
A ball rollback had been discussed for nearly two decades, but interest accelerated in 2018 with more research to define the issues surrounding distance. The USGA and R&A presented the research as an open forum, specifically using the phrase: “our absolute priority is to ensure that all key stakeholders are involved in an open and inclusive process.” But Sprague, who previously served a term as PGA of America president nine years ago, did not see the final decision playing out that way. Sprague’s predecessor, Seth Waugh, did send a memo to the USGA and R&A specifically objecting to a rules proposal in August 2023, four months before the rollback standard was announced. In that memo, Waugh made reference to “conflicting data” regarding distance. Current PGA Tour statistics show that average driving distance has gone up 4.1 yards since 2018, or an average of two feet per year.
Sprague’s comments have clearly set the PGA of America and PGA Tour in an opposite camp in the distance discussion compared to golf’s other leading stakeholders, which include the USGA, R&A and Augusta National Golf Club. “I wasn’t involved in that, but I can tell you from what I’ve heard is that there hasn’t been a lot of discussion,” Sprague said. “To my knowledge, we haven’t had a lot of dialogue on it. We really want to have a seat at the table because we’re a key component in the golf ecosystem.”
Sprague said it’s the PGA professionals who will be on the front line enforcing the rules in club events over what ball is being played. Club professionals, he said, will have to be checking golf balls “on the first tee, the second tee and the third tee.”
“The USGA and R&A have said they want to protect the game for the next 20, 30, 50 years,” he said. “The PGA of America wants to do the same thing, but we’re not part of that process.”
Sprague maintained the position that there should be only one set of rules for all golfers, eschewing bifurcating the rules and stressing that the game is better when recreational golfers can experience the same game as the pros and that “magical moment” when they hit a shot as good as a tour pro. “That’s one of the beautiful things about our sport is how amateurs and pros can play everything alike,” he said.
The USGA and R&A’s new rule would apply to all golfers, but is written to be staggered in terms of its implementation. The rule goes into effect in 2028 for elite professionals, then applies to all golfers in 2030.
The governing bodies had considered a golf ball rollback that would apply only to elite golfers but during the notice and comment period heard similar sentiments to Sprauge’s from several parties about avoiding bifurcation.
The rule change creates other logistical problems, Sprague said. He specifically cited the planned two-year window in 2028 and 2029 when previously conforming golf balls would still be allowed for recreational play (and still likely widely for sale) while the new-rule, shorter golf balls would be played on tour—and would be the only balls labeled “conforms to USGA rules.” He said he expects hoarding of old-rule golf balls to take place to the extent that those balls would be around for 10 to 15 years. He also believes the new rule’s effect would fall hardest on average players.
“I don’t know one recreational golfer that wants to hit it shorter,” he said. “I don’t think we want 30 or 40 million golfers to go out and have to not only buy new golf balls, but now buy new equipment to match the new golf ball. So it really puts a burden on the recreational player.”
Sprague said USGA officials have reached out about further meetings, and he sees this as an opportunity to reopen the topic of whether a distance rollback is necessary. Sprague said that there is a lot of new leadership in golf’s stakeholders, specifically mentioning the appointment of Mark Darbon to replace the retiring Martin Slumbers as CEO of the R&A.
“My point is, I think it’s time to just hit the pause button, bring the leaders together with the governing bodies, and get us all around the table,” Sprague said. “What problem are we trying to solve and let’s solve it.”
USGA CEO Mike Whan has said that all of golf’s stakeholders had the opportunity to help shape the direction of the rules change that the USGA and R&A are putting into place.
Rob Carr
Sprague called for a more unified decision-making process. “We need to work together collaboratively,” he said. “That’s my style, bring people together, and I want to have my hands on the wheel on the process, how did you go from A to Z.
“I’ve been in those meetings in the past, and I think there’s a lot of things they’ve missed because they don’t understand the role of the PGA professional.”
Publicly, the USGA and R&A have been clear that the decision over new golf ball testing standards has been made. Outgoing R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said as much in an exit interview with Golf Digest in December, as did USGA CEO Mike Whan in an interview with Golf Digest in November.
In his new role, Sprague senses a moment. “I know the USGA and R&A play an important part in the game, but the game’s bigger than any one organization,” he said. “That’s what we’ve all got to protect. It can’t be one organization that says we’re protecting the game, saying ‘We’re going to roll the ball back to protect the game.’
“There might be other things that others can bring to the table that will do the same thing without a big disruption.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
