Quotes of the Week: March 11, 2018

“Changing golf for the masses because a small few who play it a different level is wrong. What I do know is the USGA does not have their fingers on the pulse of the game. Taking away a putter that helps many many people enjoy the game is wrong. Rolling back the golf ball 20% is another bad idea. Ask the normal golfer how much they would enjoy the game if they flew it 20% shorter.” - via Instagram, commenting on the USGA’s stated intention to try to reduce the distance the modern golf ball goes

“Oh and by the way, there’s one group that made it all legal. The @USGA approved every ball and club they are now scrutinizing. Could have stopped it years ago. Stop blaming the manufacturers for doing their jobs.” chiming in on the same issue via Twitter

''We do not believe the trends indicate a significant or abnormal increase in distance since 2003 or from 2016 to 2017.” - the PGA Tour commissioner, noting that since 2003, there have been three instances of a significant gain in distance, and five instances where distances decreased

“Match play, it’s kind of do or die for me. Either I’m winning and I’m staying, or I’m losing and I’m going home.” - explaining that the pool-play format of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play is a big reason why he will skip the tournament

“He was top-5-ing just for fun.” - describing how well Phil Mickelson was playing even before he won the WGC-Mexico Championship

“It didn’t feel very good.” - after his left arm hit a tree while he was hitting a recovery shot during the opening round of the Valspar Championship

“I’ve missed the cut twice the week before Augusta and had a chance to win on Sunday.” - after missing the cut in the Valspar Championship

“I lost that match on the first tee.” - joling about losing a practice-round match to Augusta National member Jeff Knox after spotting Knox eight shots

''I can confirm he’s back. The roars are back.” - on Tiger Woods, his playing partner in the third round of the Valspar Championship

“This is uncharted territory. No one has ever had a lower lumbar fusion where I had it and come out here and played.” - after moving within one stroke of the lead in the third round of the Valspar Championship