Gary Player thinks technology is ruining golf:

GARY PLAYER has launched a scathing attack on technological advances in the sport, claiming that they are “out of control”. The 69-year-old South African is dismayed that today’s professional players are making many courses “obsolete” because of the equipment at their disposal.

Player, nine times a major championship winner, believes today’s clubs and balls are making a mockery of the sport. “They’ve got it completely wrong,” Player, who enjoyed his success when talent rather than technology made the difference, said. “The ball now goes 55 yards further than when we played and the courses are becoming obsolete.

“Look at this week’s Open at St Andrews, this wonderful venue, the home of golf, and yet some of these fellows are driving the greens. Tiger (Woods) hit a drive 397 yards on the 10th the other day. What they have to do — and it’s almost unanimous among the pros who play golf and understand the game — is cut the ball back.

“For me, there are three kinds of golf: amateur golf, leave all the equipment as it is and let them enjoy it, and then there’s pro golf, leave it as it is. But (in tournament golf) they have to stop all these grooves on the clubs, which in my opinion are completely illegal. You also have to change the ball and bring it back 50 yards. It’s absolutely out of control.”

This issue will simply not go away for golf.