Phil Mickelson more realistic than the king and – even – than Bryson DeChambeau. Lefty takes the latest USGA and R&A decision limiting the use of certain drivers head-on. “Stupid is he who does stupid,” Mickelson tweets, using Forrest Gump to bash the two top international golf authorities. And to say that their intervention was not meant for Phil as much as it was for the bomber Bryson.
But let’s go in order.
The USGA and R&A have long since declared war on a certain type of golf. They don’t like the kind that is all muscle and distance, the kind where technique is progressively replaced by power. In short, the kind of golf played today by Bryson DeChambeau and his disciples.
In the last few days, a new local rule (I stress local) has been introduced that prohibits the use of clubs longer than 46 inches. The intention is to limit the long-ball-and-put concept. There are many reasons behind such a choice: from the game courses that must be lengthened to remain competitive to the lesser media appeal of a golf where power is everything.The new rule is not to be imposed all the time.
The rule is designed for professional players: it is difficult to see it applied in one of our strawberry cups rather than in a president’s cup. As of January 1, 2022, anyone who wants to can adopt it in competition. The PGA Tour let it be known almost immediately that it wants to introduce it.
