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After Phil Mickelson’s ‘Pathetic’ Rant, John Daly Fired Shots at the Lack of ‘Common Sense,’ After a Controversial Rule Change by the USGA in 2021

Published 11/27/2022, 10:30 AM EST

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We have often seen golfers supporting each other. And the support of John Daly for Phil Mickelson was another add-on to the list. Mickelson is now part of LIV golf after spending three decades on the PGA tour. However, Daly has always been part of the PGA, but he did consider joining the Saudi-backed circuit. 

In August 2021, Mickelson was against a rule change that was hampering his game. However, Daly supported Mickelson’s words and suggested a new rule that should have been introduced. Let’s find out what the LIV defector said about the rule and how Daly supported him.

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How Daly supported Phil Mickelson?

Phil Mickelson took to his Twitter handle in August 2021 and shared his views on the rule change with his followers. He heard that USGA and the R&A were changing their mind about the driver’s length. The governing bodies were thinking of reducing the driver’s length from 48 to 46 inches.

He wrote, “Word is USGA is soon rolling back driver length to 46 inches. This is PATHETIC.1st, it promotes a shorter, more violent swing (injury prone,) doesn’t allow for length of arc to create speed, and during our 1st golf boom in 40 years, our amateur gov body keeps trying to make it less fun.”

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John Daly supported him by saying, “I totally agree with you, brother, but why don’t they just change the cheapest thing made in golf” He was talking about the golf ball. The PGA Champion added, “NO common sense!” According to the bad boy of golf, authorities must bring the golf ball back instead of changing the driver’s length. 

Even after receiving the support, Mickelson did not stop there. A week later, he shared another three-minute video with his followers. In the video, the Hall of Fame golfer stated that the United States Golf Association was making decisions based on inaccurate data. In the video, he also talked about the groove rule, which was introduced in 2010. According to that rule, the size and shape of grooves were changed. They made them smaller, with less sharp edges. 

Why was Mickelson against the rule?

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The 52-year-old golfer was against the rule because the reduction in driver’s length would hamper his game. With one of the most extensive golfing careers, the outstanding golfer won the 2021 PGA championship.

USA Today via Reuters

And he used a 47.9-inch shaft. Next, he won the PGA tour Champions of 2021, again with a driver who was a tick below 48 inches driver. Therefore, a reduction in length would have adversely affected his record.

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Watch this story- Golf World Disagrees With Phil Mickelson Over Latest LIV Golf Comments

Do you think Daly was right in supporting Mickelson? Or was the new rule the right decision taken by the governing bodies? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Written by:

Saumya Yashawant

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One take at a time

A Commerce graduate who turned her passion into her profession, Saumya is a Golf writer at Essentially Sports. Having developed the love for the sport at a very young age, she watched Tiger Woods and caught inspiration from his legacy early on. Apart from Woods, she shares great admiration for her country's players like Vishwanathan Anand and Neeraj Chopra.
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Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

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