Adam Scott Says New Rules Have Made Golf A Laughing Stock

The former World Number One has criticised the new Rules that came in this year

Adam Scott Says New Rules Have Made Golf A Laughing Stock

The former World Number One has been criticical of the new Rules of Golf

Adam Scott Says New Rules Have Made Golf A Laughing Stock

One or two Tour Pros have been outspoken on the new Rules of Golf already this year, with the most high profile being Bryson DeChambeau who called the new knee-height drop "a bit absurd".

The Golfing Scientist has been putting with the flagstick in this year and so has Adam Scott, who, like DeChambeau, has also been critical of the Rules.

Speaking to the New York Times, the 2013 Masters champion's comments were mainly negative, although he, unsurprisingly, was upbeat on the new flagstick Rule.

"To be honest, it almost changes the whole aim of the game. It's to hit the pin, not hole the putt," he said.

"It takes speed out of your head so much. It even takes some reading of the green out."

Scott has seen success already in 2019, racking up a 2nd place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Scott is one of a number of Tour Pros who has been putting with the flagstick in. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Aussie currently ranks 26th in the PGA Tour's SG: Putting statistics with an average of +0.69.

That is up on last year where he ranked 165th with an average of -0.285.

Related: Scott to keep flagstick in, even on a 6ft putt to win The Masters

Whilst he may be enjoying the new flagstick Rule, Scott is unhappy with most of the others by the sound of it.

“They’ve just written more grey areas into the game that were not necessary,” he told the NY Times.

“Let’s have all the rules on the back of the scorecard for people to get into the game of golf,” he said, adding, “And then as you get playing more you can maybe learn some finer points of this very complex game.

"We haven't had a lot of changes in golf in the history of the game, and we've had a lot recently – rules changes weekly in some cases – and it's crazy."

“I think we’re becoming the laughing stock.”

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV