The simple mortals among us who come across it on a golf course while looking for an idea of how much we need to hit a green shot have embraced for years the use of the distance measuring device.
The governing bodies of the Gulf made them legal in 2014, which meant that those who wanted to adhere to the letter of the law could use rangefinders, set scores for the disabled and play with them in various amateur events.
But a local rule has also been attached, which allows any tournament committee to ban their use in this competition. Therefore, they were never allowed in the various professional tournaments and at the big championships.
Last week, PGA of America came out of that box, announcing that it will allow devices from the three major leagues: the PGA Championship, the PGA for KPMG Women and the PGA for Kitchen Seniors. President Jim Richerson noted how the organization hopes to “improve the flow of the game”, allowing players easy access to the sites obtained by aiming the device at a flag and obtaining a number quickly.
This was a surprise for those involved in the highest levels of the game.
“It’s so frustrating that they’ve never asked those who know best what we think,” said veteran caddy Paul Tesori, who works for Webb Simpson. “I don’t think he will speed up the game in a minute.
“On a normal hole, I will still have the face [of the green] number, transport number, how many left or right and how many meters behind the pin. The last number we get is the pine. What happens then if the rangefinder is more than a yard away? Now we will have to redo all the other numbers to match what we are trying to do with the shot. “
A long-time caddy who did not want to be identified said: “I am 100% against. I think at the PGA Championship level, the optics are bad. In my opinion, it will allow caddies who do not prepare like each other the ability to catch up.
“I also think that at that level it won’t speed up the game too much, if not at all. Most of the boys want more numbers.”
The use of distance measuring devices makes sense at other levels of play, especially if the carts are not needed or used. The US amateur, for example, allows them. But not the US Open. In fact, no major professional tournament or major championship allows the devices, America’s PGA breaks with that.
Another longtime caddy, Kip Henley, said the only real benefit would come in rare cases, such as at the 2017 Open, when Jordan Spieth was so off the line after a tee shot in the 13th. of the Royal Birkdale hole, so getting an exact job site was a guess.
“It was damn great [by Spieth’s caddie Michael Greller]”But 30 caddies would have had 30 different numbers in that shot,” Henley said. “I understand it will speed up the game on such shots, but only minimally. From the fairway, the player will still want the numbers in front, and the laser won’t give you those … It’s a huge mistake in the eyes. ”
The strange thing about the decision is that it was barely a primary issue. Nobody asked for that. And while PGA of America and PGA Tour have improved their relationship in recent years and worked together in many ways, the latter does not intend to avoid local rules soon.
In 2017, the tour tested the devices at four Korn Ferry events.
“At that time, we decided to ban their use in the official competitions of the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour for the foreseeable future,” the tour said in a statement. “We will evaluate the impact of rangefinders on the competition at the 2021 PGA Championships in America and then review the issue with our player directors and the Players’ Advisory Board. “
You can bet you won’t see the devices from Augusta National for Masters either.
However, the PGA is an example of how there are the possibility of different ways in which the rules are applied to different tournaments. Already, it is the only organization that seems willing to allow “favorite lies” (picking, cleaning and placing) during its championships. It does not invoke the “one ball” rule seen at all levels of professional play. (The “single ball” rule is that players can only use a specific make and model of ball for an entire round). This is just another example.
One theory: PGA in America represents over 28,000 club professionals across the country. In addition to teaching the game, they also run golf shops and sell equipment. Maybe this is a way to get the remote devices that some people love with the public. People may be moved to buy the product if they see how the best in the world use it.
Talk about the tiger
Ever since he found out in early January that Tiger Woods had a fourth microdiscectomy (December 23) and also found out that he was already hitting balls, there has been little information about his status. Woods has not offered any public updates and it looks like he won’t have any media availability this week at Genesis Invitational, the tournament he’s hosting and where he could be on site for the weekend.
Woods dropped to 48th place in the world this week, meaning he is eligible for next week’s WGC at The Concession – which seems to be too soon for his return. This week marks eight weeks since the operation. Arnold Palmer’s invitation would also be under discussion, although it is possible. So now it becomes a game of waiting every week to see if he comes back. Arnold Palmer? Players? Honda? WGC-Match Play? The latter went through 13 weeks of procedure and a place where he could get at least three rounds – because of the format – two weeks before the Masters.
Jordan’s return
Jordan Spieth has been part of the discussion again this weekend lately; it had 54 holes in Phoenix and Pebble Beach. Although he failed to add his 12th PGA Tour victory in both places – he finished T-4 at the Phoenix Open Waste Management and T-3 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – the fact that he was there with a chance to be encouraging for a player who has endured so much golf anger in the last three years.
However, Spieth’s inability to put the ball into play on the tee – and some cold putter stretches – continues to condemn him. The driver is particularly annoying, as we saw on Sunday when he hit only six fairways at Pebble Beach. A few late birds helped him shoot at 2 under 70, but he affected his chances with bogeys at par-5 six and par-5 14. Over the weekend, Spieth made a bogey on four par 5 – and lost with 3 strokes.
As you might expect, Spieth has taken many positive aspects in the last two weeks.
“If I look back on Friday night in San Diego and you tell me I’m going to split the 54-hole momentum and have the 54-hole momentum two weeks in a row and I’m going to fight really hard in both weeks, I’d tell you “I’m crazy, to be honest,” Spieth said. “I wasn’t in a great space after it wasn’t cut there. [at the Farmers Insurance Open] and I just did a really phenomenal job from Sunday to Wednesday last week, which was probably the best period of a few days of work I’ve done in a long time. It just made me believe in what I was doing and progress forward. ”
Multiple winners, Berger’s hair, etc.
With his victory at Pebble Beach, Daniel Berger became the fifth player to win several times since the break of COVID-19. Berger won the first event back, the Charles Schwab Challenge, in June. Dustin Johnson (Travelers, Northern Trust, Championship Championship, Masters) Jon Rahm (Memorial, BMW Championship), Bryson DeChambeau (Rocket Mortgage, US Open) and Collin Morikawa (Workday Charity Open, PGA Championship) are others. … Berger recorded 26 consecutive rounds of hair or better, the longest series in the PGA Tour. … Since Spieth last won the 2017 Open, Justin Thomas has won nine, Johnson has had eight, Brooks Koepka six, DeChambeau six and Rory McIlroy five. … Woods, who didn’t even hit the ball due to injuries when he won the Spieth Open, has three wins since then. … Spieth is now ranked 62nd in the world and can make the WGC concession next week if he can jump into the top 50 by Monday – although the event will surpass the top 50 to fill the field with 72 players.