The Metropolitan
September/October 2021
R e a c t i o n s to U S G A a n d R & A The Bogeyman Dan O’Neill
(Editor’s note: This story appears courtesy of Morning Read (www. morningread.com) Reaction to the recent announcement by the USGA and R&A concerning a reduction in maximum shaft length underlines how ambiguous and equivocal golf can be. The announcement by golf ’s governing bodies was issued in the form of a Model Local Rule, which essentially means it’s a suggestion, implemented or dismissed at the pleasure of tournament organizers or various tours. And the suggestion is that maximum shaft length for non-putters be reduced from 48 inches to 46 inches. To bring it home, the rule is not being incorporated by the Allied Golf Associations and will not be implemented by the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association, either at MAGA championships or USGA qualifiers. The only time you need worry about taking the lamppost out of your bag is if you qualify for one of the USGA, R&A, PGA or PGA Tour championships. Therefore, the players who might be predominately impacted by this local rule are professionals, or PGA Tour members. “Might” is the proper context because only a tiny smattering of those members employ a driver that is longer than 46 inches. Among the few, the proud, the lengthy is Phil Mickelson, who stunned the sports world by winning the 2021 PGA Championship at the age of 50, and did so while using a 47½ inch driver. Aware this governing announcement was coming, Mickelson was ripping the shaft-reduction recommendation before it ever got announced. He tweeted: “Stupid is as stupid does.” Mrs Gump. Really though, are the amateurs trying their best to govern the professional game the stupid ones? Or the professionals for letting them?” Later, he added: “What data was there to say that the driver length should be capped at 48 inches? What data is there that says it should go to 46 inches?
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We’re addressing the wrong problem, an data yet again much like the grooves in
Mickelson has been at odds with th least we forget 2018 and the 13th gre his comments shouldn’t be dismissed is intelligent and articulate about the history, sensitive to its nuances. In thi doesn’t make a convincing argument.
For instance, when he won the Constella in early October - his third Champions - Mickelson was 81st in the field in explained it thusly: “I look at longest, farthest out here and I was No. 1 in d the way I look at it. If you want to look have at it. What I’m looking at is dist want to fly it 305 and try to - because I’m wedges in my hand, I’m going to be tou
Sure, understood, you’re good with we essence of “bomb and gouge” golf. An fathers had in mind, at least not the ar supposed to be “irrelevant.” Fairways reason, and it’s not strictly aesthetics. Th The concept of “where” should matter a
Does a 47½ inch driver allow a 50-yea Maybe. Is it a contributing factor to on other starts during the same season? M a golf ball farther in his early 50s than h
Mickelson’s birthday is June 16. During full season on the PGA Tour. He aver 65.37 percent in Driving Accuracy. I Mickelson averaged 301.8 yards in D Driving Accuracy.
His scoring average in ’93 was 71.205 71.897. To suggest the distance/scoring an over reach. A number of factors cou and scoring is unrelated might be equa
Moreover, relating the shaft recommen
