By Rahul Banerji
The New Year has begun, ushering in its share of hopes, fears, prayers, dreams and wishes. For golfers, it is the start of a new era with long-promised changes in the rules of the game coming into force.
On New Year’s Eve, golf bodies from around the world, the USGA, R&A and our own IGU all tweeted alerts and best wishes for those hitting the course today, asking them to make sure the changes would be implemented in a fair and regular manner.
Among the earliest changes to hit the tubes, pipes, bells and whistles of the internet world had nothing to do with rules or laws.
It was an announcement that FedEx Cup champion and world number two Justin Rose had signed a new multi-year deal with Japanese luxury club makers Honma, ending a 20-year association with Taylormade.
Tweeted Rose, “Excited to move into the new year with Honma equipment! New Years resolutions …1) play a club that looks exactly how I want! 2) play a club that feels and performs exactly how I want.”
New match?
There was more on Twitter to excite both golf and cricket fans on New Year’s Day with Sachin Tendulkar tweeting photos of himself on a golf course and at a driving range that looked a heck of a lot like the one at the Oxford facility in Pune.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen, an avid golfer, got all excited.
@KP24: I love that you’re on the golf course buddy! LET’S PLAY!!!!!! he tweeted almost instantly.
Quick came the reply: @sachin_rt: Looking forward to it buddy. Have a great year…
So if the 2018 matchup of the year was Tiger Woods versus Phil Mickelson, 2019 could well feature SRT and Kev.
Watch this space for more.
Rule changes contested
Just before the New Year began though, there was the odd voice of dissent at the way the laws had been tweaked.
According to pro tour Mackenzie Hughes, many of the changes had missed the mark.
He said on Twitter, “I just went through the new rules of golf for 2019 again. I feel like a few of the changes are good (ex. caddie alignment, loose impediments in bunkers), but I feel like most of them missed the mark (ex. ball drop from knee height, damaged club, and more). Thoughts?”
According to golf.com, the tweet sparked some discussion with the player responding to comments.
On the new drop rule: “I just think dropping it from shoulder height was fine to begin with. What problem did we solve by changing it to knee height?”
On the rule not allowing a damaged club to be replaced: “Like if you were on 18 on Sunday and needed your 3 wood but realized the face was cracked?”
“I think they were trying to simplify the game, but after watching them explain the new rules I don’t think they accomplished that.”
Plenty more to emerge where that came from as the year goes on, I’m sure.
Also read: Callaway returns to Big Bertha iron and hybrid series, out next month
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