NY Is Book Country
Related Articles
SAN DIEGO – The PGA Tour is set to ban green reading books before next season, but four-time major champion Rory McIlroy isn’t sure that’s enough to level the playing field on the greens.
Speaking the day before the start of the 121st US Open at the Torrey Pines South Course, McIlroy did not confirm whether the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council voted to ban the books, which provide golfers and their caddies with detailed information on the green runs of the course. . But he said he and most of the other players were in favor of their elimination.
“Listen, everything we talk about in these meetings is somewhat confidential, but what can I say [is that] I use a green book and would love to get rid of it, “McIlroy said Wednesday.” I think everyone’s in the same boat, most guys on tour are in the same boat, only if he has to be available to us and that helps us, people will use it. But I think for the greater good of the game, I would like them to be banned and no longer used. “
The Player Advisory Council voted two weeks ago to ban green papers, according to a report published on Wednesday by Golfweek. The entire PGA Tour board could vote on the recommendation as early as next week at the Travelers’ Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.
The ban would take effect at the start of the 2021-22 season, which is expected to begin a few weeks after the Tour Championship in Atlanta in September.
Currently, the Masters is the only tournament that does not allow their use.
Defending US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is among the players who support using the books.
“It’s not really a benefit, it’s just taking away a skill that takes time and practice to master,” said McIlroy. “I think reading greens is a real skill that some people are better at than others, and that just negates that. It negates that edge that people have.
“Yeah, honestly, I think that made everyone lazier. People don’t take the time to prepare like they used to, and that’s why you see so many players in Augusta, for example, taking their time around. of the greens, hit so many more putts. It’s because they have to. It’s because there is no book on the greens at Augusta. “
McIlroy said the ban on the books could speed up competitive rounds as players won’t spend as much time using them on the greens.
“It might make the practice laps a bit longer and you might have to do a bit more work,” he said. “But I think once we get to the rounds of the tournament it will speed up the game, and I think it will help the guys who have really done their homework, it will help them stand out a bit more.”
McIlroy said he’s not sure the green paper ban is enough. In 2013, the USGA and the R&A voted to ban anchoring a putter to the torso. The rules came into effect on January 1, 2016.
Recently, locking arm putting, in which players lock the grip of their putters to their forearms, has become widespread. DeChambeau, Webb Simpson, Will Zalatoris, Keegan Bradley, Matt Kuchar and others use this technique. Xander ScHotele switched to technique earlier this month at the Memorial.
“My putting coach, my whole team, honestly, we were very opposed to the change, and I had to see what it was about,” said ScHotele. “I feel funny, obviously being one of the top 10 putters on tour, changing putter or putting style. That’s a distinct advantage. I’m for the ban on lock-up putters, but if everyone going to use it and I feel like they have a bigger advantage, I might as well do the same. “
When a reporter asked McIlroy on Wednesday whether anchor-setting should also be banned, he said, “I thought we got rid of anchor-laying three years ago.”
“I don’t know, do I? Asked the reporter. “No, probably not,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, that’s definitely something I’d like to see addressed as well, and I think there’s a common consensus with the players on that too. Listen, golf is in a great place. I think we are. always have these conversations about what we can do to improve the game or develop the game or expand the game. “
