x
Skip to main content
Golf Logo
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
‘It irritates me’: Justin Thomas slams proposed ball rollback in 3-minute ‘rant’
SHARE
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Golf Logo
  • News
    • Latest
      • News
      • Features
      • Shows
      • PGA Tour Schedule
    • Series
      • Tour Confidential
      • Monday Finish
      • Hot Mic
      • Rogers Report
    • Shows
      • The Scoop
      • Subpar
      • Seen & Heard
  • Instruction
    • Game Improvement
      • Driving
      • Approach Shots
      • Bunker Shots
      • Short Game
      • Putting
      • Rules
      • Fitness
    • Series
      • Top 100 Teachers
      • Rules Guy
      • The Etiquetteist
      • Emergency 9
    • Shows
      • Warming Up
      • Play Smart
      • Short Game Chef
      • Pros Teaching Joes
  • Gear
    • Clubs
      • Drivers
      • Irons
      • Hybrids
      • Fairway Woods
      • Wedges
      • Putters
    • Other Gear
      • Balls
      • Shoes
      • Apparel
      • Golf Accessories
    • Series
      • ClubTest
      • Winner’s Bag
    • Shows
      • Fully Equipped
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • Travel
      • Course Finder
      • Courses
      • Resorts
    • Lifestyle
      • Accessories
      • Celebrities
      • Food
      • Style
      • Betting Advice
    • Shows
      • Super Secrets
      • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Shop
      • Clubs
      • Shafts
      • Training Aids
      • Balls
      • Bags
      • Technology
      • Apparel
      • Accessories
      • Our Picks
      • Shop All
    • Collections
      • The GOLF Collection
      • The Birdie Juice Collection
      • The Fully Equipped Collection
      • Shop All
  • Newsletters
    • Sign Up for GOLF’s Newsletters
      • Hot Mic
      • Monday Finish
      • Play Smart
      • Our Picks
      • Top Stories
      • Sign Up for All
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Features
    • Shows
    • PGA Tour Schedule
  • Instruction
    • All Instruction
    • Driving
    • Approach Shots
    • Bunker Shots
    • Short Game
    • Putting
    • Rules
    • Fitness
  • Gear
    • All Gear
    • Drivers
    • Irons
    • Hybrids
    • Fairway Woods
    • Wedges
    • Putters
    • Balls
    • Shoes
    • Apparel
    • Golf Accessories
  • Travel & Lifestyle
    • All Travel
    • All Lifestyle
    • Course Finder
    • Courses
    • Resorts
    • Accessories
    • Celebrities
    • Food
    • Style
    • Betting Advice
  • Series
    • Tour Confidential
    • Monday Finish
    • Hot Mic
    • Rogers Report
    • Rules Guy
    • The Etiquetteist
    • Emergency 9
    • ClubTest
    • Winner’s Bag
  • Shows
    • The Scoop
    • Subpar
    • Seen & Heard
    • Warming Up
    • Play Smart
    • Short Game Chef
    • Pros Teaching Joes
    • Fully Equipped
    • Super Secrets
    • Destination Golf
  • Shop
    • Clubs
    • Shafts
    • Training Aids
    • Balls
    • Bags
    • Technology
    • Apparel
    • Accessories
    • The GOLF Collection
    • The Birdie Juice Collection
    • The Fully Equipped Collection
  • Newsletters
    • Hot Mic
    • Monday Finish
    • Play Smart
    • Top Stories
    • Our Picks
    • Sign Up for All
InsideGolf Join Now  / Log In
InsideGolf

Great for yourself...or your Dad

InsideGOLF
Balls

‘It irritates me’: Justin Thomas slams proposed ball rollback in 3-minute ‘rant’

By: Jessica Marksbury
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Follow on Instagram
March 15, 2023
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share by Email
Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas isn't happy about the USGA's latest proposal.

Getty Images

Padraig Harrington aside, Tour pro fans of the USGA’s proposed ball rollback have been few and far between. Though the soonest the rollback could take effect is 2026, players haven’t been shy about expressing their displeasure.

Chief among them: Justin Thomas.

At the Valspar Championship Wednesday, when Thomas — a Titleist endorsee — was asked about his reaction to the proposal, he didn’t hold back, delivering a three-minute “rant” (his word).

"If you're swinging 127 mph, more power to you. People are running faster now too, so what, are they going to make the length of a mile longer so the fastest mile time doesn't change?"pic.twitter.com/2k5qlHSxSb

— LKD (@LukeKerrDineen) March 15, 2023

“My reaction was disappointed and also not surprised, to be honest,” he began. I think the USGA over the years has — in my eyes, it’s harsh, but made some pretty selfish decisions. They definitely, in my mind, have done a lot of things that aren’t for the betterment of the game, although they claim it.

“I had conversations with some USGA members and it just — to me, I don’t understand how it’s growing the game. For them to say in the same sentence that golf is in the best place it’s ever been, everything is great, but … And I’m like, well, there shouldn’t be a but. You’re trying to create a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. To me, it’s just — it’s so bad for the game of golf.”

Thomas cited recreational players’ ability to purchase and play the same equipment as the pros as one of the great things about the game — and an element that will be in jeopardy if the proposal is adopted at the highest levels.

“The USGA wants to bring it to a point where that’s not the case,” he said. “They want it to be, okay, well, the pros play this way and the amateurs play this way, and that just doesn’t — I don’t understand how that’s better for the game of golf,” he said. “The amount of time, money that these manufacturers have spent trying to create the best product possible and now you’re going to tell them and us that we have to start over for potentially if the PGA Tour, PGA of America, don’t adopt this local rule. So for two of the four biggest events of the year we’re going to have to use a different ball? Like, try to explain to me how that’s better for the game of golf.”

Balls
martin slumbers and mike whan
7 things we learned (and didn’t learn) from the ball-rollback explainer
By: Josh Sens

The other problem Thomas cited with the proposal is that the “problem” it’s addressing is only applicable to a small pool of elite players.

“They’re basing it off the top .1 percent of all golfers. You know what I mean? I don’t know how many of y’all consistently play golf in here, but I promise none of you have come in from the golf course and said, you know, I’m hitting it so far and straight today that golf’s just not even fun anymore. Like, no, that’s not — it’s just not reality.

“It irritates me because it’s consistent with, I feel like, decisions and things that the USGA has done in the past when it comes to rules or whatnot and data,” Thomas continued. “I mean, what is it, using 127-mile-an-hour clubhead speed? Like, if you can swing 127 miles an hour, like, power to you. I mean, people are running faster, so, what, are they just going to make the length of a mile longer so that the fastest mile time doesn’t change, or are they going to put the NBA hoop at 13 feet because people can jump higher now? Like, no. It’s evolution. We’re athletes now. Like, we’re training to hit the ball further and faster and if you can do it, so good for you. So yeah, as you can tell, I’m clearly against it.”

This isn’t the first time Thomas has been publicly critical of the USGA.

In 2019, Thomas called the newly-revised USGA rules “terrible.” Days later, Thomas quote-tweeted a post from PGA Tour Communications about a two-stroke penalty that was assessed to Adam Schenk during the Honda Classic. Thomas used the hashtag #growthegame in a sarcastic manner, and tagged the USGA. In a separate tweet, he expressed a desire for the USGA to “start communicating” with the players. The USGA PR handle responded with “Justin, we need to talk,” before accusing Thomas of cancelling meetings and reminding him that his tour has “a seat at the table.”

https://twitter.com/USGA_PR/status/1101978749199925248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1101978749199925248%7Ctwgr%5Eec50088827c88a43ff2dc4e253cca7b8da7dcdc6%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgolfweek.usatoday.com%2F2019%2F03%2F02%2Fusga-tells-justin-thomas-we-need-to-talk-after-twitter-rant-against-latest-penalty%2F

The USGA later issued a tweet saying Thomas had not cancelled meetings, and issues between Thomas and the governing body were ostensibly put to rest offline. But the ball rollback proposal has apparently reignited Thomas’ grievances with the governing body as a whole.

“Why are this group of call it 5- to-15-handicapped amateurs determining the rules of golf for professional golfers or why are they saying that we have to do something?” Thomas said. “So is it something where down the road where it’s like, you know what, then fine, if you want to change something based off of your data that we feel like is pretty biased and incorrect and self-centered to what you believe in, then maybe we’ll just create our own or we’ll do our own thing. So I don’t know where the Tour stands on that. I can’t speak on behalf of what they’re planning on doing.

“But to my knowledge, they haven’t necessarily been on board with it or wanting to pursue the rolling the ball back,” he continued. “I mean, I’m all for not letting it go any further. And I think this is another important thing, like, this would help me. Rolling the ball back is only going to help, I feel like, somebody who hits it far and is a good ball-striker. It’s just an advantage for me even more so, I feel like, than I have and I’m still not for it. It’s just — it’s a bigger picture. It’s about the game of golf. If I can hear some reasons that claim it’s better for the game of golf, then so be it, but I’ve yet to hear any.”

Once again, it sounds like JT and the USGA need to talk.

Latest In Gear

5 hours ago

Fairway Jockey launches TaylorMade Qi35 Designer Series drivers

12 hours ago

The Rule of Thirds: Why every golfer needs a proper fitting 

12 hours ago

Fitted at Cobra HQ: The 3D Printed putter you need to try

2 days ago

This club was a U.S. Open staple. This week it's nearly gone | Gear notes from Oakmont

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

  • Author Twitter Account
  • Author Instagram Account

Related Articles

News
US Open: Johnny Miller in action at Oakmont CC. Oakmont, PA 6/14/1973--6/17/1973 CREDIT: James Drake (Photo by James Drake /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

'Open your stance way up': Johnny Miller revisits divine tip that led to 1973 U.S. Open win at Oakmont

By: Johnny Miller
News
max homa and bill harke stand next to the bag at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio

Max Homa splits with caddie again, carries own bag in U.S. Open qualifying heartbreak

By: James Colgan
News
nelly korda swings driver at the u.s. women's open in baby blue shirt and white hat

How the U.S. Women's Open is rectifying Mike Whan's LPGA TV 'regret'

By: James Colgan
News
A golfer chopping out of the rough at Oakmont Country Club

What would you shoot in the U.S. Open? This tool computes your would-be score

By: Josh Sens
Lifestyle
Sam Snead putting side saddle

A croquet-style stroke is illegal with a putter. But what about other clubs?

By: Josh Sens
Rules
These 7 scenarios explain how you can use the Rules of Golf to your advantage

How to use the Rules of Golf to your advantage in 7 scenarios

By: Jay Roberts and Danny Vohden
News
President Gerald Ford became the first USGA Associate in 1975.

50 years later, USGA members program still vital to governing body's mission

By: Jessica Marksbury
News
John Ramsey and partner Chadd Slutzky at u.s. amateur 4 ball

Two golfers versus...one?! Inside the most fascinating match of the year

By: Alan Bastable
Drivers
Scottie Scheffler hits a driver at the PGA Championship.

Scottie Scheffler reveals failed driver test, calls for more 'robust' protocols

By: Jack Hirsh
Sign up for GOLF's Newsletters
Get the latest news, the hottest instruction tips, new product releases, golf media insider reports and more delivered directly to your inbox. Choose your favorites now.
Sign Up
Categories
  • News
  • Instruction
  • Gear
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
Services
  • Masthead
  • GOLF Media Kit
  • GOLF Magazine Customer Service
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • Opt-out of Ads/Sharing
  • Your Privacy Choices
Social
  • facebook
  • x
  • instagram
  • youtube
Membership
InsideGOLF Logo
More than $140 Value for JUST $39.99

INCLUDES 12 SRIXON Z-STAR XV GOLF BALLS, 1 YR OF GOLF MAGAZINE, $20 FAIRWAY JOCKEY CREDIT - AND MUCH MORE!

LEARN MORE

© 2025 EB Golf Media LLC. An 8AM Golf Affiliated Brand. All Rights Reserved. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy a linked product, GOLF.COM may earn a fee. Pricing may vary.

Go to mobile version