Higgins insists conditions not to blame for his Welsh woe
John Higgins refused to follow Judd Trump in blaming conditions for his Welsh Open exit after being sent packing at Celtic Manor.
The Scot became the third player in the world’s top 10 to fall at the thirdround stage when he went down 4-3 against Ali Carter.
Trump and Kyren Wilson were quick to criticise the humidity and table quality in the match rooms but Higgins said: “It wasn’t great but I’ve got no complaints.”
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Mike Whan has promised he will not place "handcuffs on manufacturing" when he becomes chief executive of the USGA this summer, following his departure from the LPGA.
The game's governing bodies are set to limit clubs to a maximum of 46 inches and are seeking feedback on the potential use of a local rule that would specify the use of equipment intended to result in shorter hitting distances.
The possible changes stem from the USGA and R&A'S distance insights project, which former world No 1 Rory Mcilroy branded a "huge waste of time and money" earlier this month.
Whan admits he has a lot to learn on the divisive topic, although his sports business career began at Wilson Sporting Goods and he was also vice-president of sales and marketing for Taylormade-adidas Golf.
Quizzed on his approach, Whan said: "I have a lot to learn there. I really have to spend time to get in and understand this and I'll take the time to understand it from numerous different perspectives; Tour players, manufacturers' perspectives, golf course owners, from other stakeholders, because I think I have this unique opportunity to really not have a set-in-stone philosophy walking in. I believe one of the things that makes golf great is this 100-plus million dollars of R&D (research and development) that gets spent all the time.
"I'm certainly not going to be the USGA CEO who throws a blanket over R&D and puts these handcuffs onmanufacturingandsays 'Innovation ends today'.”