Ridley Urges Golf Ball Rollback Before Masters

Augusta, Georgia - Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley voiced strong support for a proposed rollback of golf ball distances during his annual press conference ahead of the Masters Tournament, urging the sport's governing bodies to finalize the changes without further delay.

Ridley, speaking Wednesday morning, emphasized that the United States Golf Association and the R&A must act to curb the increasing driving distances among elite players, which he said have made the game more one-dimensional. The proposal, initially set for implementation in 2028 at the professional level, now faces a potential delay until 2030 following feedback from manufacturers and stakeholders. Under the updated Overall Distance Standard, golf balls would be tested at a higher clubhead speed of 125 miles per hour, up from 120, limiting their flight to no more than 317 yards. Experts estimate this would reduce tee shots by 10 to 15 yards for the longest hitters, while recreational players would see little to no change.

"There's always been quite a lot of agreement," Ridley said. "My feeling on this subject is failure's not an option. I think we need to continue to work together to come to some...