News
Report: PGA Tour set to ban green-reading books

The PGA Tour is on the verge of banning green reading books as early as this year, according to a report from GolfWeek’s Eamon Lynch.
Per the report, the Players Advisory Committee voted “overwhelmingly” to ban the books at a meeting during the Memorial Tournament a fortnight ago. The onus is now on the PGA Tour Board, who will vote on whether to ban the aid or not.
Green reading books are one of the most popular aids on tour, with the vast majority of tour pros using them on the greens. However, critics of the aid have often commented that the books take the art and skill of putting away, with others believing they lead to slow play.
Augusta National Golf Club is currently the only club that bans the books, which is brought up each time the club hosts the Masters.
Per the report, The Players Advisory Council met at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio on Tuesday, June 1 where they voted overwhelmingly to ban the books. The PAC is currently chaired by Rory McIlroy and includes Justin Thomas, Billy Horschel and Zach Johnson.
One player who was at the meeting is firmly in favor of the ban and told Lynch: “It was overwhelming. It wasn’t close. The books should be banned. Green reading is a skill to be learned.”
Before this week’s U.S. Open, Rory Mcilroy told media at Torrey Pines:
“Everything that’s talked about in those meetings is somewhat confidential, but what I can say, I think — I use a greens book, and I’d like to get rid of them.
I think everyone is in the same boat, most guys on tour are in the same boat, that if it’s going to be available to us and it helps us, people are going to use it, but I think for the greater good of the game, I’d like to see them be outlawed and for them not to be used anymore.”
Should the PGA Tour vote to outlaw the books, the ban should come into effect at the beginning of the 2021/22 PGA Tour season later this year.
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

GolfWRX is live this week from the Monterey Peninsula in Pebble Beach, California, for the 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the most scenic and celebrity-filled event on the PGA Tour.
Pebble Beach Golf Links sits atop cliffs that overlook Carmel Bay, producing both breathtaking views and an imposing threat. The multi-course event is also played on Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and Monterey Peninsula Country Club Shore Course.
A unique inclusion in this week’s photos: celebrity WITBs from a few of the amateurs in the field (including Darius Rucker, SchoolboyQ, and Macklemore). We also have a number of WITBs from the professional contingent and a look at Buffalo Bills’ QB Josh Allen’s sticks. Also: A look at some iconic Arnold Palmer clubs (pictured in the featured image).
Check out links to all our photos below, and when you’re done, join the discussion in the forums.
General Albums
- 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Tuesday #1
- 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Tuesday #2
- 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Tuesday #3
- 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Tuesday #4
- 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Monday #5
- 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Wednesday #1
- 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am – Wednesday #2
WITB Albums
- Lanto Griffin – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Charles Kelley WITB (country singer from Lady A band) – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Ben Silverman – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Jonas Blixt – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Fabian Gomez – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton from Fresh Prince of BelAir) – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Seung Yul Noh – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Beau Hossler – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Danny Willett – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- JB Holmes – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Harry Higgs – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Kevin Kisner – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Kira Dixon – Golf Channel reporter – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Michael Pena, actor – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Matt Fitzpatrick – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Bo Van Pelt – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- ScHoolboy Q – American Rapper – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Macklemore -American Rapper – sort of WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Darius Rucker – singer – WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Camilo Villegas WITB – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Amanda Balionis (CBS golf reporter) – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Arnold Palmer’s personal 1960-61 Wilson Staff Model Dyna-Powered irons
- Josh Allen mini WITB (Buffalo Bills NFL quarterback) – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Pullout Albums
- Kyle Westmoreland – custom Hzrdus driver and fairwood shafts – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Cameron putters – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- TaylorMade Max putters – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- LA Golf Malibu X putter – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
- Pebble Beach 18th Hole walking tour (and inside “The Lodge”) – 2023 AT&T Pebble Pro-Am
- PXG putters – 2023 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Join the discussion in the forums!
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News
Morning 9: ANWA field | Bryson’s surgery | DP World Tour pro roasts Reed

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News
Morning 9: More from Phil | Josh Allen missing Pro Bowl to play golf | Bubba on Masters dinner

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tonks
Jun 25, 2021 at 8:07 am
While they are about it, they should ban the putting line on golf balls for the same reason as banning greens books.
Jake
Jun 23, 2021 at 11:57 am
Kudos to Rory, all aspects of golf require skill. Green reading, judging distance, gauging wind/elevation, dealing with nervous hands. I don’t care if beer leagues allow it but it shouldn’t be okay at the highest level
Vince
Jun 19, 2021 at 1:52 am
Just as NBA has a shotclock, the tour needs a ref with every group giving players a shot clock on tour. It’s ridiculous how the play on tour has made its way down to us jr tournament. I went to watch AJGA tournament recently and i could not believe the pace of play.
Imafitter
Jun 18, 2021 at 9:00 am
Rangefinders would speed the game. They should be allowed for all tournaments.
JML
Jun 19, 2021 at 1:29 pm
keep on dreaming…
Jean-Marie LAMBERT
Jun 18, 2021 at 2:25 am
Next is also banning rangefinders, and YES then we’ll be back to golf as we know IT.
BJ
Jun 18, 2021 at 12:52 am
Then what happens to Bryson…..feels like he’s the target here. He’s slow, uses the book exclusively to read the greens ….If Armlock is next what does he do.
ChipNRun
Jun 19, 2021 at 12:46 pm
Here’s how the anarchists amongst us see it: Half the things Bryson does are playful pranks to mess with the demigods of the PGA Tour and USGA.
Jeff Kinney
Jun 17, 2021 at 3:30 pm
Next is banning the armlock putter, and then we’ll be back to golf as we know it.