Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen believes getting rid of 60-degree wedges is the solution to golf’s quarrel over distance.
The South African says the game could become “trickier” if the maximum loft in a player’s bag became 56 degrees which could force them to think more strategically about tee shots and re-consider hitting the ball as close to the green as possible.
Last December, the R&A and the USGA announced their plans to make all professional and amateur players use a shorter golf ball by updating the testing conditions used for conformance.
Players at the game’s top level could lose up to 15 yards in distance in a move that has received both hostile and supportive responses from players and industry figures.
The governing bodies are determined to address how far the ball travels to ensure golf remains sustainable in the coming years. Goosen, who now circulates the PGA Tour Champions, agrees with this in spirit but perhaps not in method.
“You don’t see anybody really hitting an iron off the tee anymore, just hit a driver down there,” he said to NCG.
“Personally, if they said instead of making the ball go shorter, if they said we’re getting rid of the 60-degree wedge, the maximum loft you’re allowed to have in your bag is a 56, that would’ve made a huge difference on these guys taking a driver and just ripping it down there 50 yards from the green.
“Now they’ve got a 64-degree wedge, you can hit the shot, but you can’t hit that shot with the 56-degree wedge. That would’ve forced them to really plan from the tee a little bit better, leaving yourself with a full 56 instead of trying to hit it 50 yards short of the green. But that’s my philosophy on a way to make the game a little trickier.
