With the USGA and R&A expected to announce a universal golf ball rollback this week, opinions have been shared over the weekend by some of the most influential voices in golf.

Tiger Woods said that he is in favor of the rollback and has been for many years.

Tiger shares his thoughts on the golf ball rollback and bifurcation. ? pic.twitter.com/btF6FTcjoO

— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) December 2, 2023

“As I told you guys,” Tiger said, “I’ve always been for bifurcation. I’ve always said that. Just like wood bats and metal bats [in baseball].”

Woods added that he hadn’t talked to any other players regarding how they felt about the incoming change.

“Honestly, I haven’t talked to any other player yet,” Woods said. “I’m curious to see what the feedback is. I know the PGA Tour had their stance on it, but the ruling bodies are — they’re the ruling bodies.”

Rory McIlroy was even more emphatic in his support for the rollback. The subject even brought about a rare X post for McIlroy, who shared his thoughts in a post.

I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability. It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past 2 decades.…

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) December 3, 2023

“I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability. It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past 2 decades.

“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.”

McIlroy also added an interesting reply to an X user, saying he was previously chasing speed for “ego” rather than to play better golf.

More than anything else, ego.

— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) December 3, 2023

Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee also took to X to share his thoughts. However, his opinion was the complete opposite of Rory and Tiger and called the governing bodies “out of touch.”

I appreciate the governing bodies and what they mean to the game, but on the roll back issue they are not only out of touch with the game they govern, but the people that play it. It is a very small number of people that are in favor of a roll back. Golf course architects of…

— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) December 3, 2023

“I appreciate the governing bodies and what they mean to the game, but on the roll back issue they are not only out of touch with the game they govern, but the people that play it. It is a very small number of people that are in favor of a roll back. Golf course architects of which there are what, maybe a hundred or so? Golf course architect geeks of which there are maybe a few thousand? And a very few tour players and former tour players, compared to 50 million global golfers against it and 28,000 PGA of America members against it and most every single touring professional against it. The average LPGA tour player flies the ball 220 yards, the average male amateur carries the ball 215 yards, the average female amateur carries the ball 147 yards, (all numbers courtesy of a USGA report btw) but because a few tour players through years of practice, thousands of hours in the gym, and yes, advances in tech, can carry the ball 283.8 yards (tour average for 2023) they want to penalize 50 million golfers. Please. Appreciate the athleticism of the best, but don’t punish the only people in the game that will feel the sting of this decision.”

While there are opinions on both sides, the majority of amateur players seem to be strongly opposed to the rollback.

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