Overview

• The PGA of America upheld its 'play as it lies' policy despite heavy rain at Quail Hollow, leading to widespread player frustration over mud balls.
• Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele highlighted how mud balls disrupted shot control, with Scheffler suffering a costly double bogey on the 16th hole.
• Jordan Spieth and others linked mud ball issues to similar frustrations at past tournaments, emphasizing the challenge of maintaining precision under such conditions.
• Commentators, including Curtis Strange, criticized the decision as shortsighted, arguing it undermines fair competition by introducing excessive randomness.
• Research by Dr. Paul Wood demonstrated how mud on a ball significantly alters its aerodynamics, reducing distance and creating unpredictable trajectories.