Major goals could see Rory McIlroy play with shorter ball

Rory McIlroy has backed the "unpopular" idea of a shorter ball being used in elite competition and may even use it in PGA Tour events when not required.

Golf's governing bodies said in February 2020 they intended to "break the ever-increasing cycle of hitting distance" and last week announced the proposal of a Model Local Rule (MLR) to give tournaments the option to require the use of balls which will travel around 15 yards less.

R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers and USGA counterpart Mike Whan confirmed that the MLR would apply in their own elite events, most notably the Open Championship and US Open, respectively.

The PGA Tour did not immediately back the proposal and it was strongly criticised by top equipment manufacturing company Acushnet and former world number one Justin Thomas, who plays their market-leading Titleist balls.

However, with the Masters – which McIlroy needs to win to complete a career grand slam – expected to adopt the shorter ball, McIlroy said he could choose to play it in PGA Tour tournaments even if the MLR was not adopted on the US circuit.

"Honestly, for me the major championships are the biggest deal, so if the PGA Tour doesn’t implement it, I might still play the Model Local Rule ball, because I know that that’ll give me the best chance and the best preparation leading into the major championships," McIlroy told No Laying Up.

"And again, this is personal preference and personal opinion at this stage of my career.

"I know that I’m gonna be defined by the amount of major championships that I hopefully will win from now until the end of my career. And that’s the most important thing for me.

"If that gives me the best chance to succeed at the major championships and feel as prepared as I possibly can