USGA Officials Happy With Rules Despite PGA Tour Complaints

Sneak Peek: This article will appear in the Feb. 25 edition of Global Golf Post

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS | When Rickie Fowler decided to criticize golf’s rules modernization on Friday, claiming that the new rules are “not doing any favors for our sport,” the USGA Executive Committee and senior leadership team were here at the group’s annual meeting. Their take on the introduction of the new rules so far:

“It has been a huge success,” said CEO Mike Davis.

If Davis and his very capable rules colleague Thomas Pagel were the least bit concerned about some of the issues that have arisen in the professional game so far, it was not evident in San Antonio. While acknowledging that the optics on television might not be good, Davis is confident that time will eliminate that concern. “Change for some people isn’t as easy as it is for others,” Davis said.

I think he was referring to some members of the Brotherhood of the PGA Tour.

Davis and Pagel pointed out the tour’s players had been informed of some of the major changes they might exp...