AVIDGOLFER

The New Drop Rule Looks Absurd

Rick Arnett /

The new drop rule so far is aptly named. Like drop it. Quickly. Taking a drop from knee rather than shoulder height might make sense in theory, except you have to drop from the knees rather than the knees up. Which makes for some awkward looks (see above).

Or this.

It’s simply the Unholy Trifecta of Golf Rules: Dropping only from knee height is ridiculous in appearance, method and common sense

The Tour’s Mad Scientist Bryson DeChambeau was initially intrigued before rightfully calling it “a bit absurd” as Kevin Casey reports.

DeChambeau was asked Friday about what rules change intrigues him the most. He offered the new drop rule, and his thoughts toward that change were none too flattering:

I think the knee drop one (intrigues me most). That you have to drop it from knee height is a bit absurd, unfortunately. I think that you should be able to go from knee height to shoulder height. There should be no issue with that, whatever you want to do, honestly.

Other changes include interviewing players during play. So far, it’s no better than talking to football coaches at halftime–meaning, nothing meaningful is ever uttered.

Golf.com’s crew weigh in.

Ritter: I don’t blame players for turning it down. That time in between shots is still a time to concentrate and stay in the moment. Anybody here watch MLB broadcasts, where the boothmen interview managers in between innings? Those interviews sound good on paper, but I find they’re usually awkward and rarely add anything to the telecast. I suspect golf may suffer a similar fate.

Shipnuck: The real problem is that they won’t ask tough questions at inconvenient times — that would add real value, to get inside the players’ thinking in real-time. Otherwise it’s just boring stuff. Why bother?

 

Bryson DeChambeau Drop rule PGA Tour