Phil Mickelson is certainly no shrinking violet and he always speaks his mind concerning anything to do with the game of golf.
Back in 2021, Mickelson took aim at the USGA for a rule change that they were proposing.
The man from Rancho Santa Fe, California, has never quite seen eye to eye with the United States Golf Association.
Mickelson will be hoping for an exemption from the USGA to play in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills next year.
The six-time major champion has only missed one US Open since 1993, so his appearance at last year’s championship at Oakmont may well have been his last.
The problem for the 55-year-old, if he is indeed hopeful of receiving an invite into the US Open, is that his relationship with the USGA is strained to say the least.
Phil Mickelson once slammed proposed USGA rule change as ‘pathetic’
Mickelson caused huge controversy at the US Open in 2018 when he struck a moving ball during round three at Shinnecock Hills.
He received criticism from fans, his fellow players, journalists and, indeed, the USGA for his actions.
The three-time Masters champion obviously didn’t take kindly to the criticism that was aimed at him.
So when one of golf’s leading governing bodies on the planet decided that they wanted to make a big change, it was no surprise that Mickelson bit back.
Back in 2021, the USGA proposed a rule change whereby professional and elite amateur golf competitions would have the option of limiting the length of a driver shaft to 46 inches.
However, that did not go down well with Mickelson, who took to X in reaction to the potential changes.
He said: “Word is USGA is soon rolling back driver length to 46 inches. This is PATHETIC. 1st it promotes a shorter more violent swing (injury prone,) doesn’t allow for length of arc to create speed, and during our 1st golf boom in 40 years, our amateur gov body keeps trying to make it less fun.“
Phil Mickelson is right, who doesn’t love seeing pros bomb their drivers?
Drivers can still be up to 48-inches long, although tournament organizers have the power to impose a 46-inch limit if they so choose.
The thing is, why would the powers that be at any tournament impose that rule?
Don’t we, as fans, all want to see the pros hit their drives as long as they can?
Seeing the likes of Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm fly the ball 320 yards through the air is incredible to watch.
But the USGA are offering tournament organizers the chance to limit the distance we see the best players in the world hit their drives?
It’s just a bizarre way to approach things. Every other sport in the world tries to innovate and move forward with the times, while golf’s governing bodies always seem to be thinking of ways to halt any kind of progress.
Mickelson was bang on the money with his comments.
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