Perplexed Jon Rahm has asked why it is necessary to change golf balls for major events and joined a chorus of stars slamming the proposed rule change.
The rule change seems to have brought rival golf stars together as PGA Tour stalwart Justin Thomas and LIV Golf rebel Bryson DeChambeau have already slammed the idea. The Model Local Rule could be introduced from 2026 and aims to reduce the distance the ball can travel in major tournaments.
Stars could be forced to use different balls to those in recreation golf to reduce how far they can drive the ball. Governing bodies the R&A and USGA announced the changes last week which have been widely criticised.
Spanish star Rahm won the Genesis Invitational last month and was left perplex by the proposed rule change ahead this week’s WGC-Match Play.
"I haven't talked to anybody in the USGA to understand why they're so focused on testing all our equipment, whether it's the driver, the ball, whatever it is," said Rahm, as quoted by Golf Monthly.
"They're hyper-focused on making professional golf a little bit more difficult than it already is. I don't know why. I don't think we're going to get to a point to where we only play both Opens with a different golf ball.
"That would be a little bit silly. It's going to be an all-out change or no change at all. That would be my guess, but who knows.”
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USGA CEO Mike Whan was reported as saying last week that the new rule was needed to stop driving distances increasing further in future years. He claimed that unless the distances are addressed then it would ' become a significant issue for the next generation'.
Former US Open winner Rahm has questioned the timing of the move and suggested that course designers could make the game more challenging for stars.
He added: “My biggest question for them would be we're in a golden era of golf where it's exploded since Covid, a lot of people are watching, you have a completely different tour, all these things are happening for the game and it's growing. Why change what's working?”
"Courses like last week at Innisbrook, it's not long, and the score still held up. Colonial for the most part, unless it's a very benign week with the wind, scores are always higher than the average. You can neglect a lot of distance with different golf course design.”
