The debate on whether or not to “roll back the golf ball” is once again taking center stage in the world of golf. This month, R&A chief executive, Martin Slumbers, announced there is a plan in place for bifurcation of the golf ball and the plan will be revealed by the end of the year.

While speaking at the Australian PGA Championship over the weekend, Adam Scott said he believes the driver is more of a problem than the golf ball itself.

“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 to 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.

“I’d like to address that first and see what knock on effects that has. If guys wanna swing at it 130 with a tiny driver head then good luck.”

The vast majority of golfers seem to be against any modification to the golf ball, so it will be interesting to see the changes announced next month.

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After spending two years on LIV, Bernd Wiesberger is headed back to the DP World Tour.

Subsequently, the DP World Tour issued a statement on the 38-year-old.

“Wiesberger’s membership ceased, and he was removed from the Race to Dubai, after he failed to comply with the Tour’s minimum counting event regulation for the 2023 season, having played in only two counting tournaments – the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic,”

“He subsequently expressed his desire to play a full DP World Tour schedule in 2024 and has fulfilled all sanctions – both financial and tournament suspensions – that were imposed upon him for breaches of the Tour’s conflicting event regulation across 2022 and 2023.

“Consequently, his request for reinstatement has been granted by DP World Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley, in accordance with the procedure set out in the Members’ Regulations.”

Wiesberger posted a statement on X about his 2024 plans.

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The PGA Tour’s 2023 Player Impact Program results have been published, and there is a new man on top taking home the $15 million first prize.

• Related: The reason behind Azinger’s NBC exit as his replacement for Hero World Challenge is revealed

On Wednesday evening, PGA Tour pro Nate Lashley took to Instagram to share a memo sent to players by executive vice president and chief player officer Jason Gore.

The memo shows that Rory McIlroy is this year’s big winner, taking the top spot and pushing last year’s victor, Tiger Woods, down to second place.

Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler make up the rest of the top five, with all three pocketing over $5 million from the program.

 

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While posting the image of the memo, Lashley sounded off on social media, declaring that the world’s top player’s receiving the big bonuses is “an absolute kick in the face to the rest of the PGA Tour players.”

The 2024 program will see $50 million paid to the top 10 players, as opposed to this year’s $100 million to the top 20 players.

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