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A raft of new rules were introduced for 2019
and there has been vocal dissent from certain players, including
American Justin Thomas.
The world number five's latest outburst came three weeks ago at
the Honda Classic, where he was unable to replace a nine-iron he
had bent striking a tree on his follow-through.
Under the old rule, had an official deemed the club unfit for
play Thomas could have replaced the club, assuming there was a
replacement handy.
The new rule allows players to continue using a damaged club,
even bending it back into shape if possible, but not to replace
it during a round.
"You can just add that one to the list of rules that don't make
any sense," Thomas told reporters.
"If you break or bend the club in play, I don't see where the
harm is in replacing it."
Pagel disputes the new rule does not make sense.
"That rule used to be so complicated (determining) when a club
was damaged, unfit," Pagel told Reuters in an interview.
"We said let's simplify it. You can start with up to 14 (clubs)
and if one becomes damaged you’re not able to replace it.
"Justin and I have connected. I thought it was very positive
conversation. I want to keep the nature of it private."
The Thomas criticism followed what at times was a rocky rollout
of the new rules in January, though Pagel says he expected
growing pains after such a significant overhaul.
The first major controversy involved a rule banning caddies from
standing behind players and lining them up toward a target.
PENALTY RESCINDED
An incident at the Phoenix Open where Denny McCarthy had a
two-stroke penalty rescinded prompted the USGA and its joint
ruling body the R&A to rewrite the rule in a matter of days.
Pagel said the rule as it was originally written was too
unforgiving.
"That’s one of the things we learnt and went in and quickly
changed," he said.
Another change required players taking a drop to do so from knee
height, rather than shoulder height.
This also was put under the microscope when Rickie Fowler at the
WGC-Mexico Championship became the first player penalized.
Fowler was well aware of the rule change, but simply forget in
the heat of the moment and took a drop from shoulder height so
quickly that his caddie, who was zipping up a pocket in the golf
bag, did not even see it.
The drop rule was introduced so the ball will not roll as far
when it hits the ground.
Pagel said the USGA had expected "growing pains" given the scope
of the changes.
"The first six weeks we had a member on site at every PGA Tour
event," he said.
"We’ve kept an open mind all along. Going back to last year, we
acknowledged this is a lot of change.
"We want to have conversations with players and understand their
perspectives."
But that does not mean the players will always get their way.
"Governance is not easy but it's a role we take (seriously),"
Pagel said. "It’s not about a popularity contest."
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Ed
Osmond)
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