"If there are enough rumblings it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that we could not adopt the rule."
E. Michael Johnson and Mike Stachura's news story about the PGA Tour inching closer to a delay of the groove rule change includes some revealing quotes.
"Last night there was a conference call and we decided that it was too heated of an issue to decide on a conference call so we're going to wait until next week's board meeting to make a decision about it," said Stewart Cink, a member of the tour's policy board. "I would expect by Tuesday there will be some kind of an answer on it."
Then this from former policy board member Joe Ogilvie:
"They botched it and because they botched it, it won't be implemented in 2010," said Ogilvie. "I'd say there is a 90 percent chance it is not going to happen. I think they are going to have to [change the date]. I don't see it being adopted earlier than 2011."
So we are left with all sorts of questions as to why this has become an issue at the last minute.
The manufacturers have had some idea this was coming since August, 2006 and specs since August of 2008. Based on Twitter and interviews, players who have taken the initiative have had several months now to experiment with the new grooves.
The PGA Tour and Commissioner Finchem have been very consistent in stating that they support the USGA and R&A (here, here and here make a nice starting point for background on the tour's position and statements that certainly won't mesh with backing out of the 2010 date). But we also know from last week's USGA press conference that they are placing themselves at the mercy of the tour.
The "botching" referred to by Ogilvie seems to be with the confusing dates for implementation (2010, 2011, 2014, depending on who you are). I find it humorous that the PGA Tour, which hasn't done a whole lot of worrying about the every day game, is suddenly worried about the plight of the average golfer?
We know from Ian Poulter that this timing confusion is an issue to Acushnet family members, as is the dramatic difference in shotmaking ability. And we know from Stewart Cink that there will be a big difference, largely because players will have to move to a softer, spinning ball.
So if players convince the tour they won't be ready, they'll be branded pathetic, soft and spoiled.
If this is a manufacturing issue, as suggested, it would seem odd that these big, powerful, hi-tech manufacturers are unable to accommodate a rule change that will essentially impact certain sets of irons and their wedge lines. Manufacturers will take a hit to their tech savvy brands.
Unless we are not talking about multiple manufacturers here, but instead, just one company that doesn't feel it can retool its assembly line or perhaps doesn't feel it has a soft enough ball in the pipeline for circa 2010. Then we might see other manufacturers point that out and it could get ugly.
I'm just going to sit back and watch. Oh, and just for the last time, I swear, ask, wouldn't it have been so much easier to just change the ball?
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Reader Comments (12)
I don't understand the timing of this reaction - it's been almost a year, so what have they been doing with their time when they could be testing things out? - nor the cause of the reaction at all. If the groove rule is delayed I will be disappointed in the USGA.
You say, "They botched it."
Who's "they"? What did they "botch"? How,exactly, did "they" botch anything?
Technically, this is a matter that is technically outside of the USGA, insofar as the USGA has only recommended a condition of competition for you and your tour buddies. The USGA rules could go into effect for the manufacture of new clubs, and without a PGA Tour-imposed Condition of Competition, you could play with any damned clubhead you want, that was made in 2009. (Won't that be great for your sponsors? "Hi, I'm Joe Oglivie, and I play with last year's model -- you know, the ones with the modified U-grooves. That you can't buy anymore. If you're smart, like me, you'll play with last year's clubs too.")
Well, at least Joe has his Titleist ball contract. So he's got that goin' for him. Which is nice.
"I don't know of one rule the USGA has made in the last 20 years that has actually improved the enjoyment of golf for the average guy," Ogilvie told Golf World in May. "We're the best players in the world. We'll figure it out. [But] there's very little push back in regards to USGA rules. I think the PGA Tour and the professional golfers need to be the ones who push back. ? I've argued that the PGA Tour should say, 'Sorry, we're not going to do it.' "
It's hard to fathom the stupidity and the inappropriateness of Ogilvie's comment. This rule, the groove rule, wouldn't have affected the average guy. At least not the average guy who doesn't need a new set of irons, has some perfectly usable wedges, and who doesn't plan on being among that 0.00001% of golfers who might seriously try to qualify for the U.S. Open.
As for the USGA's enactment or rules, and its abdication of rule-making in the realm of equipment technology, what I know with moral certitude is this; Joe, the Pro V era has helped you and your tour colleagues more -- much, much more -- than average golfers. We aren't obsoleting courses. But the tour players are. This is the great perversion of the Pro V era. And, the perversity of your comments, Joe. In doing nothing about the golf ball, the USGA has ennabled the growing gulf between players like Joe Ogilvie and "the average guy."
Softer balls presumably fly less far, thus reigning in the obscene distances some players hit it.
I thought the change was just sold to us on the basis it would merely make play from the rough more challenging for pros.
Shame if this clever strategy fails.
Geoff your analysis of how this is going to play if the PGA Tour decides not to adopt seems correct to me: they'll be savaged as crybaby spear-carriers for manufacturers who can't provide a softer ball. So you're correct, the ball is at the root of it.
Chuck: right on.
Are any non-Titleist guys complaining?
It would be enormously funny to me if the tour pros ended up using the ball originally targeted at us old folks.