Bifurcation – ‘the point or area at which something divides into two branches or parts.’ (Merriam-Webster dictionary.)
Not a word heard very often, or at all, but now one ingrained into virtually every golf story in the past 48 hours, and now legendary player Tony Jacklin has joined other professionals in suggesting something other than the proposed Model Local Rule, where competition organisers could enforce a ruling to ensure the players use a ball that travels shorter than balls currently used by professionals and amateurs alike.
The idea is not new. Indeed, the concept of differing balls used by the two sectors of golfer was debated on here as far back as 2017, but with technology moving apace and with players getting stronger and fitter, the two rules makers have proposed a move to stop the huge hitting players that “threaten golf’s long-term sustainability and undermines the core principle that a broad and balanced set of playing skills” that should “remain the primary determinant of golf.”
Whilst everyday golfers will always try to match their professional counterparts, it is a rare thing to hear any comment that it’s unfair that they can’t hit the distances of Bryson, Rory, Cameron Young et al, particularly as distance does not always equate to accuracy.
Player such as Long Drive World Championship runner-up Bryson DeChambeau called the move ” the most atrocious thing that you could possibly do to the game of golf,” whilst current PGA Champion Justin Thomas (wearing a manufacturer’s cap) said the proposed move was “selfish” and that it ignored the fact that “we [the professional golfers] are athletes now.”
On Wednesday, two-time major winner and twice winning captain of the European Ryder Cup side added his opinion to the debate surrounding length.
The 78-year-old took to Twitter to suggest the way to overcome the bombers is to bring back persimmon woods for the professional elite.
Bring back persimmon for pros,end of story !!!
— Tony Jacklin CBE (@jacklin_tony) March 15, 2023
Many replies were in agreement, suggesting the smaller head and sweet spot meant the driver used to be the hardest club in the bag to hit and the reason why classic courses were so difficult.
— Dan Malloy (@DoubleEagleDan) March 16, 2023
The last player to win a The Masters using a persimmon wood was Bernhard Langer in 1993, with players such as Justin Leonard and David Love keeping one in the bag after the majority had moved on to metal beasts.
I’d just like to see top players having to hit medium irons into par 4’s. I’m guessing those days have gone!
— Tony Jacklin CBE (@jacklin_tony) March 15, 2023
Whilst it seems as though viewers like to see reachable par-4s, there is a particular delight in watching the guile required around the classic, shorter tracks such as this week’s Copperhead, host of the Valspar Championship.
Whilst Jacklin seems to concede the days of four-iron or five-iron to par-4s is a thing of the past, the current move is certainly trying to get close to it.
Article originally appeared on: Golfwrx.com
I like the idea of limiting the tee shot distances. “Target golf” set out to do it by ending fairways beckoning lay up tee shots. Limiting distance via ball changes is a little divisive, amatuer/profesional. The elimination of metal woods (1, 3, 5, etc) might be a good compromise to strengthen the integrity of the older/traditional courses. Of course, another consideration , might be the approved specs of the persimmon wooded clubs and the challenge of the affect on the persimmon wooded clubs durability when using the current golf balls.
Absolutely right