McIlroy all for ban on books to read greens
SAN DIEGO — Count Rory McIlroy in when it comes to banning the books players use to help them read greens — even though he uses one himself.
McIlroy, responding to reports the books carried by most players in their back pockets might be on their way out as early as this fall, said he believes reading the way greens break is a skill that should be part of the game. The books, he said, cut into the advantage good green readers have.
“I use a greens book and I’d like to get rid of them,’’ McIlroy said. “If it’s going to be available to us and it helps us, people are going to use it, but I think for the greater good of the game I’d like to see them be outlawed and for them not to be used anymore.”
McIlroy’s comments come in the wake of a report in Golfweek that the PGA Tour’s Player Advisory Council voted earlier this month to outlaw the books, a vote that will go to the full tour membership for final approval. McIlroy is chairman of the council and made clear his position is that the books should be taken out of the game at the highest level.
“It’s not that it’s an advantage really, it’s just taking away a skill that takes time and practice to be mastered,’’ McIlroy said. “I think reading greens is a real skill that some people are better at than others and it just nullifies that advantage that people have.’’
The books also have come under criticism for contributing to slow play.
“It might make practice rounds a little longer and you might have to do a little more work,’’ he said if books were banned. “But I think once we get to the tournament rounds it will speed up play and I think it will help the guys who have really done their homework, it will help them stand out a little bit more.’’
A gentle roar
The roars are back at major championship golf, though they won’t be as loud as they might have been this week at the U.S. Open.
Officials say up to 10,000 fans a day will be at Torrey Pines, a welcome site after the last Open was played without fans at Winged Foot
“I look around this place and I see like 90 days ago we didn’t think we were gong to have fans,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director of championships for the USGA. “To see that we have six or seven grandstands that have gone up in the last couple of weeks, it’s pretty remarkable.’’
On Tuesday, California loosened its COVID-19 restrictions, allowing the Los Angeles Dodgers to play before more than 50,000 fans, which is about the number of tickets usually sold for a normal Open round. Bodenhamer said there simply wasn’t enough time to revamp the plan and add capacity to Torrey Pines once it became clear that restrictions would be lifted.
Drones pilot
Dustin Johnson has no problem with broadcasters using drones to offer better camera angles at big golf tournaments.
In fact, he has a few drones himself.
“They sit in the box. I’ve flown a few of them and they crash,” Johnson said. “I tried flying them at the house where there’s a lot of trees, and there’s not a whole lot of room to land them and take off. So I need to go and practice in an open field.”
Johnson said the drones can give fans a different perspective on the course and add to their understanding of what players face on different shots. He said he has heard a few fly over during tournaments but they haven’t been a distraction.