Tiger Woods Joins Rory McIlroy on Short List of Players in Favor of a Rolled-Back Ball

The modified-ball proposal from golf's governing bodies has been controversial with many pros voicing disapproval.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods is in favor the proposed rollback of the golf ball that would see professional players compete with a ball that does not fly as far based on new testing standards.

Saying “I think this should have happened a long time," Woods joined Rory McIlroy as one of the few players who is on board with the proposal announced last month by the United States Golf Association and the R&A that would see the ball modified for elite players.

A comment period is under way and the proposed “Model Local Rule" would not go into effect until 2026, if passed.

“I have always been an advocate," Woods said during a news conference Tuesday at the Masters when asked about the proposal to roll the ball back. “I’ve been of the position if you play in a pro event or you have a 'P' next to your name, you should be playing a pro ball. Now that was my opinion on it. If you have an 'A' next to your name and you’re playing an amateur event, you should use an amateur ball.

“But if you’re an amateur playing a pro event, now that’s where the transition can be had, where you can start. I wouldn’t say rolling the game back, but you can start slowing it down because we’re just not able to create enough property out there."

Woods said he understood the difficulties of manufacturers marketing to consumers who want to play the same equipment as pros. “But on a competitive level, there’s only so much we can do at the amateur level or the Tour level on how much property we can do, and the guys are going to find ways to hit it further.

“Not every golf course can be like Augusta National and move property and move holes back. There’s only so many golf courses you can do that on, and we still want to be able to play the old traditional great golf courses."

Woods also he understands that it is “exciting to see Rory McIlroy hit it 340 yards on every hole. But does it challenge us and separate the guys who can really hit the ball in the middle of the fact and control their shots? I think if you roll the ball back a little bit, you’ll see that the better ball-strikers will have more of an advantage over the guys who miss it a little bit."

Asked how it might impact his own game, Woods joked, “Well, by the time it takes effect, I may be long gone. I may be in the buggy and off we go."

He then said he was using an old Persimmon driver last week at his home course and that he brought a couple of balata balls to Augusta to show McIlroy what the difference was in putting.

“We’re not going to roll the ball back that far, but it’s kind of neat to be able to see the golf ball do different things."

In using the Persimmon driver, Woods said “I was still able to carry the ball 290 yards. Now, when I missed it, no, it did not go very far. But the ability to hit the ball in the middle of the face was rewarded.’’