WGC Match Play Bubba Watson was the toast of Texas last week as the boy from Bagdad, Florida won his second event of the season at Austin Country Club in the WGC Match Play trophy. A real birdie fest place for the world’s best players (although my chosen players were rubbish). Loads of drives over 375 yards, greens being attacked from the tee and whoa be tide if a player made less than six birdies in the round. It was almost made for the likes of Bubba. Amazingly World No 1 Dustin Johnson didn`t win a match even though he did hit a 486 yard tee shot and both Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy failed to get out of their respective groups. Bubba never played the 18th all week and the demolition of Kevin Kisner handing him a dogs licence in the final just shows what fine form he was in with golfs first major awaiting next week.
He has moved into the serious reckoning for a third Green Jacket and as always with Augusta it generally has a 'horses for courses' feel about it come the back nine Sunday.
Some fine players may not be there. Ian Poulter is hoping for a ‘Miracle In Huston’ as are others but with a strong field it won’t be easy to win. This year’s Masters field is one of the smallest in many years. So far only 86 have the coveted Masters invite which will go to 87 if the Huston winner goes to the likes of a Pouter.
Although, even top officials can get it wrong occasionally. Anyone else see the incorrect drop Justin Thomas was given from a path last week? I get asked about this sort of rule most weeks from our members. Thomas failed to take total relief from the pathway his ball was on as he still had his left foot clearly on it. He should have re dropped. I think the referee involved will be very embarrassed about such a simple mistake that thankfully didn`t affect the match outcome. The big debate.. A big question that has been raised again recently is on how far the ball is going and the power game. The R&A and USGA feel it could be time to act on this as the average distance has crept up 3 yards over the last 2 years .Not much it seems but where might it be in another 5-10 years’ time? Drives like DJ’s could be common place on certain Tour courses and even though it is an amazing skill to hit it that far (Rory definitely is not in favour of slowing the ball down) He is only 5.9 feet tall and 20 KGs lighter than DJ, however he is just as long and believes it is a skill to hit that far and something everyone can develop and improve. Yet perhaps it’s time? Golf courses will need to continue to require more land for new designs and existing masterpieces could become "too easy". It isn`t easy to just build new tees either. They need as much thought as a new green design much of the time , just sticking a tee further back isn`t always the answer .Interestingly though hitting the ball further definitely excites many of us "lesser" players. The average drive for men is 8 yards longer than 20 years ago. The actual distance though.. 208 yards, Ladies 146 yards. Hardly long.
Perhaps it`s time to have more than one set of rules to play by? Although I can imagine the conversation around the R&A dinner table with that one! The game needs more than just Tiger to inspire people back. All golfers grow up desperate to hit further to make the game easier and more fun. It would be a minimal loss if the rules were to change physically for the majority but mentally, knowing the ball will only go a certain distance could be detrimental.
We will watch the discussions unfold in the next couple of weeks as there is due to be a meeting at Augusta between the governing bodies of the rules, leading manufacturers and the Tours. Wouldn`t mind seeing the fly on the wall documentary on that one! | 
