Cthe hell every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in sports and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, our writers discuss distance debate news and try to figure out Scottie Scheffler’s 2026 season.
One topic we never discussed in this space after the PGA Championship was that Cameron Young was playing with a ball that would RECITED in line with the new return guidelines set to take place in 2028. Our Sean Zak recently wrote about how the debate returns line up to become golf’s next civil war. For those not interested in the subject, why did the PGA golf ball news create such a stir and what will be at stake in the future?
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): The fact that this ball is said to be compliant is currently in play by one of the game’s biggest stars and could still absolutely be crushed from said star is … really interesting! I think a lot of us felt that going back would equate to significant distance loss. So who knows? I think it’s still early. What will pro golf look like if, say, the PGA Tour rejects rollback and we have the four majors and the USGA played with balls rolled back, but no other tournaments? Is this even a possibility? Time will tell. And as Sean mentioned in his story, the coming months will likely reveal more.
Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): The news was enough to give pause to those on both sides of the debate. To those opposed to a comeback, it seemed like evidence that any handshakes were much ado about nothing — because Young, after all, is still killing the ball and seeing plenty of success. For those in favor of a return, it seemed to suggest that the proposed changes might not go far enough — because Young, after all, is still killing the ball and seeing plenty of success. What is at stake for the future? Profits more than performance is my guess.
Josh Schrock, news editor (@schrock_and_awe): The Sens nailed it. News of Young’s ball made a splash because he hit the ball a mile and racked up wins. So if the ball Young is using were to meet rebound standards, it clearly doesn’t do enough for those who want rebounds and shows those who oppose the idea that this whole effort is kind of a farce. It’s no secret that the ball needs to be rolled back, and perhaps in a bigger way than has already been proposed. But will all five families find a way to get to where the game needs to be?
About a week after Young’s story dropped, GOLF reported that the PGA Tour sent one 13-question survey of PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour members on the issue of distance in golf and whether the proposed USGA and R&A reinstatement is necessary. How much influence do you think professionals have on this topic going forward? And will it be enough to shape the future of the game?
Marksbury: I don’t know. On the face of it, they seem to have a lot of power, but if they want to compete, they will ultimately submit to whatever the governing bodies decide to do.
Meaning: I’m sure they have some influence, but much less than the manufacturers. And then there’s Augusta National, which will do whatever it wants and probably faster than the rest of the game.
Schrock: They have influence over how the rules are applied at their tournaments, but their say is minimal when it comes to the USGA, R&A and Augusta National. As Sens pointed out, I expect Fred Ridley, especially after his presser before this year’s Masters, to set the pace.
In the days after Garrick Higgo was late for his time at the PGA Championship, penalized two shots and missed the stroke by one, Higgo and caddy Austin Gaugert parted ways. Gaugert took to social media to say“As a caddy, you try to do everything you can to prepare your player for competition and I didn’t get that.” While we don’t know all the details behind this incident, who should usually be blamed for these types of mistakes: the caddy or the player?
Marksbury: This is somewhat difficult. On the one hand, a Tour caddy’s sole purpose is to support his player to the best of his ability. On the other hand, showing up on time to the first set is the most basic thing the game asks of you. So without knowing the overall dynamic between these two, I say it’s 70 percent Higgo’s fault, 30 percent Gaugert’s. I mean, Gaugert was on the tee at the right time. Higgo was not.
Meaning: If Gaugert had held Higgo hostage and prevented him from getting to the first tee, I might have been inclined to hold him responsible. Otherwise, I’d say this one is in the player.
Schrock: It’s a major. Get to the tee early.
The PGA of America, a week after hosting its biggest annual event of the year, announced that its president, Don Rea, has been replaced as president by Nathan Charnes, who will serve as acting president. In a statementThe PGA of America said the move “followed a series of issues over time that, taken together, were determined to be detrimental to the Association.” Rea made headlines for some comments he made during the 2025 Ryder Cup, though considering that was a few months ago. Are you surprised he’s gone, or surprised the PGA waited so long?
Marksbury: I’m not surprised at either of them. I’m sure there were protocols and investigations to be accomplished, so the PGA chose to take its time to finally make the call.
Meaning: My guess is that this was decided some time ago, but acted on slowly, partly for human resource reasons and partly for optics – to avoid the appearance of hasty action in response to public outcry.
Schrock: Not surprised. His press conference at last year’s PGA was a disaster. Then came the Ryder Cup. They put it on the back burner and made the announcement a week after the PGA so they wouldn’t have to answer questions about it at the press conference.
Wyndham Clark won the CJ Byron Nelson Cup on Sundayand Scottie Scheffler, who started the second day outside the lead, finished third. While Scheffler won his first start of the season and has compiled six top 10s since then, he has yet to win a second time. How do we begin to differentiate between a series of missed opportunities stacked up versus simply playing good golf but not winning?
Marksbury: It’s so hard to win, and certainly even harder to win consistently over several years, as Scottie has. I think we’re seeing a little bit of the Tiger effect with him — our expectations are so high that we’re surprised every time he goes within striking distance and doesn’t collect a W. So am I worried about Scottie? No. I can only imagine that each failed conclusion is fuel to his fire for the next one.
Meaning: Both Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods had winless droughts of more than two years in their primes. Scheffler will be fine. But it would definitely help his cause if his pitcher got hot.
Schrock: He hit a ton in 2023 and then took it easy in 2024 while still playing great golf. He racked up a ton of wins last year, and this year his shot has been a little cooler and his iron game less accurate. He’s still a weak Friday at Augusta, having probably won the Masters, and I think he should have won the PGA if his player was neutral. The game ebbs and flows, and he’s still the best player in the world. He will probably win the Memorial in two weeks.
