The USGA is changing golf’s golf swing system, earning a surprise endorsement from the PGA Tour
SOUTHAMPTON, NY – Golf’s four governing bodies issued a joint statement Wednesday morning agreeing to distance control plans for the game. In a rare show of solidarity among golf’s ruling families, each of the four bodies – the USGA, R&A, PGA Tour and DP World Tour – signed a statement, which could have far-reaching consequences for the future of professional golf and the assets used within it.
While the USGA and R&A have been working for years to bring back the golf ball, the PGA Tour and DP World Tour have joined the program for the first time.
Following the latest collaboration, the statement confirmed that, instead of the phased postponement of golf – 2028 for professionals and 2030 for other golfers – the implementation of one day in January 2030 is best for all parties. The statement also suggested that changes implemented on that January 2030 date may require more than just golf ball adjustments.
“The IR&A and the USGA will take the appropriate time to evaluate a range of possible options and determine a path forward,” the statement read. “Specifically, the governing bodies will work closely with key stakeholders – including the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and their members – to review, evaluate and implement options that have a significant impact on the high-level range. These efforts will ensure that the elite game does not become too one-sided while continuing to emphasize the importance of the shot.”
Up until this point, the PGA Tour (and many of its top players) had cast doubt on the reinstatement of the first golf ball, intended to stem the rise in distance that has contributed to the obsolescence of some championship golf courses and dramatically affected the way golf is played at the highest levels. It was when commissioner Jay Monahan returned to work in 2023 (following a medical leave) that he announced that the Tour would not support the USGA’s proposed Modified Location Rule.
The debate rages behind the scenes in 2026. Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley launched a strong defense to be pushed back at his annual press conference in April, and Cameron Young is reportedly playing a golf ball that will meet the USGA’s future specifications in May. Young is one of the best drivers in the game, and said at the PGA Championship he hasn’t seen many losses – leading many to question whether the proposed postponement will have the intended effect.
After the PGA Championship, the PGA Tour began quietly polling its members about their thoughts on the distance debate. This 13-question survey asked players about their thoughts on what has led to the increase in distance over the years, and whether it is a problem in sports. It also asked players whether the Tour should have its own rules-making process, rather than rules set by the USGA and R&A.
Recently, USGA CEO Mike Whan spent Tuesday’s US Women’s Open across the country in Dublin, Ohio, at the Memorial Tournament, where he met with a 16-member Advisory Council on the topic. Whatever happened at that meeting apparently had some impact on the proceedings, leading to Wednesday’s endorsement by the Tour and its transatlantic partner, the DPWT.
