Scottie Scheffler wants golf chiefs to get tougher with their testing of drivers after several stars were forced to make a change at the PGA Championship this week.
After winning the third major title of his career on Sunday night, Scheffler confirmed that, along with Rory McIlroy, he was part of roughly 50 players whose drivers were tested before the tournament started here at Quail Hollow.
McIlroy drew particular attention when it emerged on Friday afternoon his driver was deemed nonconforming and the Masters champion could no longer use it this week.
Xander Schauffele then suggested after his final round on Sunday that Scheffler was also trapped by the rule and forced to make a change.
Kerry Haigh, chief championships officer for the PGA of America, confirmed the USGA was asked to test drivers this week. The USGA, which governs golf in the US and Mexico, regularly conducts tests on the PGA Tour when asked.
Results are confidential but Haigh said the standard process is for one-third of the 156-man field to have driver tests and that was the case at Quail Hollow.
Scottie Scheffler has urged golf chiefs to get even tougher with their testing of drivers
Like Scheffler, Rory McIlroy’s was deemed nonconforming and he could no longer use it
After his celebrations had died down, Scheffler admitted he thinks officials should get even stricter and claimed they are only ‘going halfway with it right now’.
He said: ‘We had a feeling that it was going to be coming because I’ve used that driver for over a year. I was kind of fortunate for it to last that long, I felt like.
‘I would argue that if we’re going to test the drivers, we need to be even more robust in the way we test them. That was a conversation I had with one of the rules officials; if it’s something we’re going to take seriously, I feel like we’re almost going halfway with it right now.
‘If we’re going to test only a third of the field. If we’re going to do it right, leave it up to us as players, like the rest of the rules in the game of golf are.
‘It’s a newer rule that we haven’t quite gotten right yet. I think we have some stuff to figure out. I think, if we’re going to do it, we might as well do it right, get more robust and get even more strict.
‘You can test guys every week, if you want. I mean, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. The driver for me is actually really easy. Like I said, we were prepared for it.
‘I had used my driver for over a year. With the amount of practice that I do, I felt like I was fortunate for it to last that long.
‘The team at TaylorMade did a really good job – actually the week of the Byron (PGA Tour event The CJ Cup Byron Nelson), we were really focused on getting it back up for that tournament and this one. Adrian, he did a great job getting me fit for a head.
‘Like I said, we were really prepared. So it wasn’t that big of a deal.’
Scheffler wants officials to be stricter and claimed they are only ‘going halfway with it’
Schauffele, who was left enraged when his own driver failed ahead of the 2019 Open, also hit out at the nature of testing earlier on Sunday.
‘Scott is winning the tournament and I think he switched to his backup too,’ Schauffele told Golfweek.
‘See you don’t even know because he’s so good. We can deal with it because the (equipment) reps are so good now.’
‘I think they should test everyone’s driver. It’s not right to just test 50 guys. It just doesn’t make sense if you’re in it for the spirit (of the game). The whole point of it is to protect the integrity of the field. If you don’t test everyone across the board I don’t think you’re protecting the whole field.
‘Do it to everybody, not just a third of the guys and if a player has a hot driver they’re still playing the tournament. Just my take.’
