Adam Scott says PGA Tour pros will fightback against USGA and R&A

Several PGA Tour pros are likely to ‘push back’ golf ball changes from the game’s leading associations, according to Adam Scott.

The 2013 Masters winner believes proposed changes that could make drives 20 to 25 yards shorter would not go down well with top players.

Scott, chairman of the Player Advisory Council, said: “I think there’d be some pushback on that from the membership.”

• Report: Five-time PGA Tour winner branded ‘cheat’

• Report: LIV Golf star ‘splits from team’

In a meeting with the PGA Tour’s 16-member PAC on Tuesday, Golf Channel has reported that the reception from players was ‘predictably chilly’.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting included a one-hour presentation from the associations and separate exhibitions from Titleist, Callaway, and Bridgestone.

But the general agreement between players was that the implementation of rollback would not be supported, leaving the tour in an awkward position should the rule be adopted.

When asked if he thought the tour would introduce the rule change, the Australian says it would be ‘surprising’ if the powers-at-be opted to adapt golf balls.

The 14-time PGA Tour winner said: “I feel like that would be going against the grain strongly of what the sentiment is and certainly off the back of yesterday, I think that would be surprising.”

Rickie Fowler, another member of the PAC, agrees with Scott and reckons the justification for the change is ‘skewed’ and focuses too heavily on ‘outliers’ at the top end.

He said: “The growth of distance [over the last 20 years] is fairly insignificant. I don’t see it as a spot where we need change or as big of a change that’s being proposed.”

• Rory McIlroy to play Genesis Scottish Open

• LPGA Tour star out with back injury

The USGA and R&A are using data which predates the Tour’s ShotLink program to understand distance gains at the highest level.

Players are also concerned that testing protocols would use a club head speed of 127mph, despite the tour average sitting just over 115mph, while Cameron Champ leads the tour this season with a 126.47mph average.

The PGA Tour’s chief tournaments and competitions officer, Andy Pazdan, remains hesitant to comment on his organisation’s stance.

Pazdan said: “It’s way too early for me to theorize if we’d take one position or another.

“If they decide they are going to move forward then it comes back to us, the PGA Tour, to ultimately make a decision on whether we’d use the model of the local rule in competitions.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.