On Monday, LPGA Tour player Jenny Shin took to X to express frustration with the expected announcement of the USGA and R&A rolling back the golf ball for both professionals and amateurs.

I finally got my 7iron to fly 152yards, carry, now they want to roll it back. How depressing. Why can't men just have different driver heads.

— Jenny Shin (@JennyShin_LPGA) December 4, 2023

The issue has been a hot topic of discussion over the last few days. Looking at informal polling and the social media sphere, most players and fans seem to be against the idea.

Shin’s sentiment is similar to that of former Masters Champion Adam Scott, who argued the driver head was the real problem, not the golf ball.

“The biggest fundamental change in the game since I’ve been a pro, is traditionally the driver has been the hardest club to hit in the bag, and now it’s the most forgiving.”

“And that’s the biggest evolutionary change in the golf bag to me out of the equipment.

“The ball is the ball, but the driver went from the hardest club to hit is now the most forgiving and the go-to club for guys if they are nervous.

“The penalty for missing a driver just isn’t high enough anymore, in my opinion, at the top level.

Rory McIlroy said on X that bifurcation was the right decision, but golf ball manufacturers pushed against the idea so they wouldn’t have to make one golf ball for professionals and one for amateurs.

“The people who are upset about this decision shouldn’t be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn’t want bifurcation. The governing bodies presented us with that option earlier this year. Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines, when in reality, the game is already bifurcated. You think we play the same stuff you do? They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone. Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but yet again in this game, money talks.”

Despite these complaints, it seems as if the governing bodies have made their decision regarding golf ball rollback already.

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Hall-of-Fame baseball player John Smoltz has made it to the final stage of Q-School on the PGA Tour Champions.

The 250-game winner must finish in the top 5 at TPC Scottsdale this week to earn a card for the Champions Tour.

Looking to make history ????

Longtime @MLB pitcher and Hall of Famer John Smoltz competes for a pro golf career on the Champions Tour this week at the Final Stage of Q-School.

The top five finishers will earn status for 2024. pic.twitter.com/h073IVxt0f

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) December 4, 2023

While speaking to the PGA Tour, Smoltz acknowledged the difficulty of the task at hand.

“I don’t live in a false reality. This sport is really difficult. I’m not trying to think that this is something that I could do for a whole year or not … but it’s fun to attempt it.”

Smoltz played well in the first stage of Q-School, shooting +1 for the week at Buckhorn Springs Golf and Country Club.

“The highlights were that I started every round really good,” he said, “and that normally doesn’t happen for me. I got to four-under twice with three or four holes to go, but I didn’t finish well.

“That’s what I’m trying to work on here. If you have a good round going, then keep your foot on the gas. I did that well as a pitcher.”

Smoltz has previously competed in nine PGA Tour Champions events, making the cut in eight of those appearances.

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Over the past week or so, the golf world has been captivated by rumors of the reigning Masters champion, Jon Rahm, potentially heading to LIV Golf in 2024.

• Related: Caddie opens up on surprise firing following multiple-win season

The London Times has now reported that the figure for Rahm will be in the $600 million range, although it doesn’t specify whether team equity is included in the figure. The report states that the Spaniard is considering the offer.

What perhaps is most telling is the fact that neither Rahm nor his team has come out to deny any of the rumors, whereas in the past the Spaniard has been quick to squash the speculation.

With LIV Golf’s Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who governs the Saudi Public Investment Fund, set to meet with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan on Friday, it seems likely that a Rahm announcement would come this week prior to the meeting.

Third in the Official World Golf Ranking, Rahm is undoubtedly one of the best golfers in the world, and a move to LIV would create a massive ripple effect on the entire golf landscape.

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