Butch Harmon backs Olazabal nine-club golf idea

Legendary instructor Butch Harmon endorsed a proposal from two-time Masters winner Jose Maria Olazabal to limit players to nine clubs during tournaments.

Harmon discussed the idea on the latest episode of The Smylie Show podcast hosted by Smylie Kaufman. He said Olazabal suggested reducing the club limit from 14 to nine to force players to hit a wider variety of shots instead of relying on distance.

The comments come after four golf governing bodies announced a single implementation date of January 2030 for a potential golf ball rollback. Harmon noted that manufacturers have invested heavily in current equipment and that reducing clubs could be a simpler alternative.

Harmon said the change would require better course management. He added that he would like to see one tournament experiment with the rule to observe the results.

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Rory McIlroy celebrates his record six-shot lead at the 36-hole mark of the 2026 Masters Tournament.
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Rory McIlroy takes six-shot lead at halfway point of Masters

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Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, carded a seven-under 65 in the second round to surge to 12-under par, opening a six-shot lead through 36 holes at the 2026 Masters. Sam Burns and Patrick Reed sit tied for second at six under, with Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood one stroke further back. The lead marks the largest at the 36-hole mark in tournament history.

Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley reaffirmed the club's backing of the proposed golf ball rollback during his annual pre-Masters press conference. He called on golf's stakeholders to reach an agreement, stating that failure is not an option. Ridley highlighted efforts to preserve the game's integrity beyond just long drives.

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Jack Nicklaus stated that the proposed golf ball rollback changes are insufficient to address distance issues in professional golf. Speaking at the Memorial Tournament, he compared the measures to a minor adjustment with limited impact. Scottie Scheffler also shared concerns about the changes during his press conference.

Former major champion Tom Lehman has urged the PGA Tour to impose severe penalties on golfers returning from LIV Golf. In an interview, he argued that such players should start with no status and work their way up from the bottom.

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The PGA Tour has ratified a new two-track system for its schedule that will take effect in 2028. The changes create a Championship Series for roughly 130 players and a Challenger Series for others with different purse sizes.

Joaquin Niemann received a two-stroke penalty for throwing his sand wedge during the first round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. The incident occurred on the sixth hole Thursday night, turning his score on the hole from a 9 to an 11. Niemann responded with a 65 in the second round on Friday.

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Steve Stricker has expressed mixed feelings about allowing former LIV Golf players to compete on the PGA Tour Champions. The 59-year-old said the senior tour would benefit from their presence but noted potential consequences for their past decisions.

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