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[이데일리 스타in 주영로 기자] Starting this year, the use of range finders is allowed during the match at the PGA Championship and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which are major men’s and women’s golf competitions.
The American Professional Golf Association (PGA of America, hereinafter referred to as PoA) said on the 10th (Korean time), “The PGA Championship, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the Senior PGA Championship allow the use of distance measuring equipment in three major pro competitions” Revealed.
PoA Chairman Jim Richardson said, “We believe that rangefinders can help improve the flow of the game.” “The use of distance measurement equipment is already common in general games, and athletes and caddies are also measuring equipment during practice rounds. “We are collecting street information and the like,” he explained.
The PGA Championship will be held on May 20-23, the Senior PGA Championship will be held on May 27–30, and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship will be held on June 24-27.
The revised golf rules in 2019 allowed the use of range finders in all competitions, but allowed them to be banned by local rules. Golf Rule 4.3a(1) stated that information on distance and direction can be obtained using equipment, and calculation of altitude difference or wind speed is not permitted.
However, the PGA Tour, which is the most influential in tours around the world, banned the use of rangefinders, and its full use did not expand.
Since 2017, the PGA Tour has temporarily allowed the use of range finders in the second part (Conferry) tour and tour competitions in Canada and Latin America. However, it is still banned in the official PGA Tour competition.
The PGA Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship are held as major tournaments of the PGA and LPGA tours, but the organizer is the American Professional Golf Association.
Prior to this, the American Golf Association (USGA) and R&A allowed the use of range finders for amateur competitions only from 2014.