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sports Thursday 4 February 2021

DeChambeau flattered by role in golf’s rule-change proposals

By STEVE DOUGLAS is change something that
AP Sports Writer pertains to 0.1% of the golf-
Bryson DeChambeau has ing community; 99.9% of
been pushing the limits of the people play this game
golf with his quest for in- play for enjoyment, for en-
creased distance off the tertainment. They don’t
tee. need to be told what ball
So the game’s “mad sci- or clubs to use,” McIlroy
entist” is flattered that said. “We have to make
rule-makers are proposing the game as easy and ap-
changes to regulations in proachable as possible for
an effort to control how the majority of golfers.”
far big hitters like him can McIlroy said he thought the
launch a golf ball. distance project has been
“I think I might be pushing “a huge waste of time and
them a little bit,” a smil- money.”
ing DeChambeau said “Because that money that
Wednesday. “I don’t know it’s cost to do this report
if anybody’s pushed them could have been way bet-
like — and I’m not really try- ter distributed to getting
ing to push. ... I think that people into the game, in-
I’m willing to try things that troducing young kids to the
people are not OK with try- game, introducing minori-
ing. ties to the game,” he said. Bryson DeChambeau lines up his putt on the ninth green during the third round of the Tournament
“When you go to the fringe Intent on not targeting of Champions golf event, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii.
Associated Press
limits of the rules,” he add- player-related factors such
ed, “there will be conversa- as improved athleticism, the Saudi International on like he did when he won his object to a local rule that
tions about it, for sure.” the governing bodies are the European Tour starting first major, a six-shot victory would apply at the elite
The USGA and the R&A on instead looking closer at Thursday. “I think it’s a really in the U.S. Open at Winged level in limiting technology,
Tuesday announced three golf equipment as they cool thought process. It’s a Foot in September. or what he said would be
proposals and six areas of seek solutions to limiting little flattering, in a sense, For him, the most impor- “some sort of bifurcation.”
interest involving the mod- distances. Among the pos- because I did talk about tant thing is that the rule- “But we are such a tiny por-
ern game. This comes one sibilities is a local rule that that 48-inch driver for so change proposals do not tion of golf,” he said. “Golf
year after their “Distance could limit the length of long, and it just didn’t work remove the “human ele- is way bigger than the pro-
Insights Project” revealed the shaft to no more than for me the way I wanted it ment.” fessional game. It’s the oth-
a steady increase in dis- 46 inches, down from 48 to. “It’s about making sure er stuff that really matters,
tance for more than 100 inches. DeChambeau had “As it’s played out, I think that you’re playing with the and that’s the stuff they
years — with average gains been testing a 48-inch driv- it’s really cool to see that relative integrity of back need to concentrate on.”
of about 30 yards by PGA er, though he has yet to use there’s some change off of in the day,” he said. “Peo- DeChambeau spoke to
Tour players in the last 25 it in competition. the conversations that I’ve ple weren’t using 48-inch other technology — his ox-
years — and golf courses “It’s funny, I’m sure there’s had.” shafts a long time ago, and ygen intake.
that keep expanding. a lot of excitement about The American has added so they are really trying to The U.S. Open champion
Rory McIlroy, speaking me having a potentially more than 40 pounds of make it similar to back in was favored to win the
from the Phoenix Open, controversial thought on it, muscle and mass in the last the day in a sense while Masters in November but
said the governing bodies but I don’t,” said DeCham- year — through changes having a modern flair to it fell away after complaining
were looking at the game beau, speaking on a video to his diet and hard work in obviously with the graphite of feeling dizzy and some-
through a “tiny lens.” call from Saudi Arabia, the gym — to enable him shafts and all that.” thing being wrong with his
“What they’re trying to do where he is competing in to overpower golf courses, McIlroy said he would not stomach.q
AP source: Twins reach 1-year, $13M deal with DH Nelson Cruz

By DAVE CAMPBELL during the pandemic-short- through a ruptured tendon
AP Sports Writer ened schedule. He has led in his wrist in 2019. He won
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The the team in homers in each the Marvin Miller Man of
Minnesota Twins are bring- of his two years with the the Year award in 2020 on
ing back designated hitter Twins while ranking second a vote by his major league
Nelson Cruz on a one-year, and fourth, respectively, in peers, earning respect
$13 million contract, ac- the AL in OPS. The six-time around the game for his
cording to a person with All-Star won Silver Slugger efforts to donate a fire en-
knowledge of the negotia- awards in 2019 and 2020, gine and an ambulance
tions. The agreement was when the Twins won the AL and help build a police sta-
reached late Tuesday and Central both seasons. tion in his hometown of Las
confirmed Wednesday to Just as valuable to the club Matas De Santa Cruz.
The Associated Press on has been Cruz’s leader- No player in the major
condition of anonymity be- ship, with his laid-back de- leagues has more home
cause the deal was pend- meanor and hard-working runs over the last seven
ing completion of a physi- attitude and an ability to seasons than Cruz (260),
cal exam. Cruz turned 40 mentor players like first who also has the third-most In this Sept. 27, 2020, file photo, Minnesota Twins’ Nelson Cruz,
last season and batted .303 baseman Miguel Sanó, a RBIs (663) during that span, center, smiles in the dugout after the Twins clinched the AL
Central championship with the Chicago White Sox’s loss during
with 16 home runs, 33 RBIs fellow native of the Domini- according to Sportradar the tenth inning of a baseball game in Minneapolis.
and a .992 OPS in 53 games can Republic. Cruz played data.q Associated Press