Colin Montgomerie calls for golf ball distance regulation in professional tournaments

Colin Montgomerie is urging professional golf governing bodies to implement a mandated golf ball rollback to preserve the integrity of historic tournament venues. Speaking on a podcast, Montgomerie argued that increased athlete fitness and advanced equipment allow players to hit distances that render traditional hazards like bunkers obsolete at courses such as St Andrews and Royal Lytham. He proposed a bifurcation model where professional tournaments provide a specific, shorter-distance ball for all participants, rather than allowing players to supply their own equipment. Rory McIlroy has expressed support for this approach, advocating for regulation at the elite level while maintaining current standards for amateurs. Previous plans for regulations set for 2028 remain on hold, leaving the future of equipment standards for the PGA Tour and international championships currently uncertain.

• 10:30 PMYahoo Sports — Colin Montgomerie calls for a dramatic change to the game of professional golf, ‘I think it’s about time’