Keegan Bradley and Rory McIlroy are among the most respected figures in professional golf.
Bradley’s career includes eight PGA Tour wins and a major title, while McIlroy has taken things even further, collecting 29 Tour victories along with five majors. While the two hold each other in high regard, they haven’t always agreed on every topic.
The Northern Irishman wasn’t shy about voicing his opinion when he said it would be impossible for Bradley to also play as captain at the Ryder Cup.
And back in 2023, there was another disagreement when it came to a new rule brought in by the PGA Tour. Both players found themselves on different sides of that debate too.
Keegan Bradley calls upcoming PGA Tour rule change ‘monstrous’
The golf ball rollback rule will be implemented for professional golfers in 2028 and for amateurs two years later, in 2030.
Phil Mickelson had strong words about the decision back in 2021, calling it “pathetic” and warning it would hurt the sport’s appeal.
Bradley seemed to agree with that view. In a 2023 interview with Golf Digest, he described the upcoming change as “monstrous”.
“Srixon made whatever the USGA was saying, and it was 40, 50 yards [shorter] with my driver,” he said. “I was a club or two shorter. I think that the USGA, everything that they do is reactionary. They don’t think of a solution. They just think we’re going to affect a hundred percent of the population that plays golf.
“For the amateur world to hit the ball shorter is monstrous. I can’t think of anything more stupid than that. I don’t think it’s very smart at all, especially when golf’s growing in popularity literally coming out of COVID.”
The changes are set to go ahead as planned, so there won’t be much more for him to do besides adjust. But McIlroy has been vocal about his support for the move and will likely welcome its arrival when it happens.
Rory McIlroy and Keegan Bradley split over folg ball rollback rule
The day after Bradley spoke out against the golf ball rollback rule, McIlroy took to X to share his opposing view.
The five-time major winner posted: “I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability. It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past 2 decades.
“The people who are upset about this decision shouldn’t be mad at the governing bodies, they should be mad at elite pros and club/ball manufacturers because they didn’t want bifurcation. The governing bodies presented us with that option earlier this year. Elite pros and ball manufacturers think bifurcation would negatively affect their bottom lines, when in reality, the game is already bifurcated.
“You think we play the same stuff you do? They put pressure on the governing bodies to roll it back to a lesser degree for everyone. Bifurcation was the logical answer for everyone, but yet again in this game, money talks.”
McIlroy pointed out that professional golfers are already playing a different ball than most amateurs. And he’s supportive of the change because he feels it will protect historic courses from becoming obsolete due to advances in distance.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy highlights Colin Montgomerie’s overlooked record fans rarely mention
The divide between McIlroy and Bradley reflects a wider split among PGA Tour players on how best to manage equipment standards moving forward.
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