A year ago the USGA, arguably the governing body of the rules of golf, along with the R&A, notified players and equipment manufacturers last year that effective January 1, 2010 the dimensions in the grooves of golf clubs over 25 degrees of loft would change dramatically to create less spin on shots and make play from the rough more difficult. It is the latest effort to make shot making and driving accuracy more of a premium and the rough more difficult. Both Associations remain concerned about the ease with which today's players are breaking par.
For some time now both the PGA Tour and USGA have been lengthening golf courses in the hopes of making par a good score again. Bethpage Black, this year’s US Open course was set at over 7,400 yards and had little success in making par the winning score. The players and technology have easily won the yardage battles and tournament scores well under par are still the norm. Last week the PGA Tour (who governs itself) agreed to follow the USGA's lead and also bring the new groove rule into effect for the start of the 2010 season. The Tour hopes that the new rule will have the desired effect of increasing the demand on driving accuracy and is hoping the new groove rule will make errant shots more penal.
So as the PGA Tour and USGA prepare to introduce the rule, Stewart Cink (PGA Tour winner), posted a Tweet on his Twitter page saying that he'll just play a softer ball next year! Will the new groove rule mean anything in terms of scoring next year? Doubtful as technology usually wins.
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