LIV Golfer disagrees with Rory McIlroy argument as new row ignited - 'It makes me laugh'
Watch now: Bubba Watson speaks out on the rollback
Bubba Watson has explained why he doesn't feel the golf ball rollback will be good for the game in a completely different stance to that of Rory McIlroy.
The R&A and USGA announced last week new rules to limit golf ball distances for elite players from January 2028.
McIlroy was in favour of the major change, stating professional players will need to concentrate more on their craft than distance.
"It will bring back some skills into the pro game that have maybe been lost," he said.
Bryson DeChambeau will be affected
PA
"I actually think it will make the pro game more entertaining to watch - you will see a different variety of games succeed.
"It's not just going to be this 'bomb and gouge' that we see predominantly now when you watch the top level of golf.
"But Watson, who was one of the first players to switch to LIV for a fee in the region of £40million, doesn't understand why the big hitters are being punished.
The two-time Masters champion is seen as one of the biggest hitters in the professional game while Bryson DeChambeau unapologetically went hell for leather in trying to change his game based around distance.
Par 4s that were previously undrivable were producing eagle putt opportunities with golfers now hitting the ball further than ever before.
That's a large part of the USGA's decision to introduce the golf rollback from 2028, but Watson believes it could end up being counterintuitive for the tour.
"It makes me laugh because, lets say you have a big hitter like Bryson," Watson said on the Fore Play Podcast.
"Move him back five per cent then everybody else is going back five per cent.
"You're still going to have Bryson as the longest and the shortest is still going to be the shortest.
"It's not like he's getting the regular ball and everybody else is getting the other ball.
"So instead of driving here, you're going to go backwards to here.
Bubba Watson is one of the biggest hitters in golf
PA
"Then when you look at from USGA standpoint and all the majors around the world, what are your main sponsors on commercialism?
"It's the golf ball manufacturers and now you're asking them to throw away all their technology they've used and built and spent money on to form a ball for the public - remember the public is buying the product.
"Golf courses have already built new tees so they've spent bunches of money designing.
"Why spend money? I just don't get it. Just let what we have have.
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"Football isn't changing its field, basketball; the only thing they've added in the last 50 years is the three-point line and that was to make it more scorable not because they were taking away.
"So I don't understand why we have to be mad at good golfers shooting low scores or hitting the ball miles."
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