Cameron Young using controversial new golf ball at PGA Championship

Cameron Young will use a new golf ball for this weekend’s PGA Championship that will likely meet the proposed controversial rollback standards set to take effect in 2028.

Young, the No. 3 golfer in the world behind 2026 Masters winner Rory McIlroy and compatriot Scottie Scheffler, heads into this weekend’s major at Aronimink Golf Club as one of the favorites. Victory in Philadelphia would seal Young’s first-ever major title, but he’ll have to beat the stacked field using a new golf ball.

Young has been playing a Titleist Pro V1x Double Dot ball since last August, and will conform to the controversial rollback conditions that have many detractors. The move is designed to stop shots exceeding 317 yards.

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The Titleist Pro V1X Double Dot was created to reduce spin, not to meet the upcoming standard. The new regulations were set to be enforced in 2028, but may be pushed back to 2030.

The lower spin has helped Young’s precision with his irons and wedges. Typically, that kind of adjustment comes at the cost of distance off the tee, but Young did not experience any drop in driving length.

Golfers have expressed doubt that the upcoming changes will deliver the outcome the R&A and USGA intended. PGA Tour star Adam Scott expressed doubts.

“I just feel like they [the R&A and USGA] are not going to achieve what they want to achieve the way they are going about trying to roll back the ball,” said Scott.

“There are a lot of different factors that could be addressed to get the desired result, which I could be in favor of.”

Scott also experienced a two-yard drop-off when recently testing a golf ball. Lucas Glover also asserted that golfers don’t go with the ball they can hit the farthest, but the ball that has the best overall balance and feel.

“It’s laughable that they think we use the longest golf balls that are available to us. They think we optimize for distance, that’s ludicrous,” Lucas Glover said.

“Nobody hits the ball we can hit the furthest, we use a ball that’s the best all around. A lot of guys use a ball that doesn’t go as far for more feel.”

Young has been told what to do before the PGA Championship, with Johnson Wagner explaining on CBS that the American needs to rest ahead of Thursday’s tee-off to stand a chance of winning.

“Absolutely. 100% he is,” Wagner said when asked if Young was tired at the Truist Championship. “What it takes out of you, even though he won by six last week, what it takes out of you being in contention all week long, wire-to-wire, and then putting yourself right back in it?

“Fatigue was definitely a factor. Our teammate, Mark Immelman, was with his group, that second to last group today, and he said it during a commercial break when they were on the 15th hole. He’s like, ‘Guys, he looks gassed out there.’

“So I think, to your point, Shane, definitely take the day off tomorrow, maybe go out there and have a light day, Tuesday, play nine holes, and play nine Wednesday, but he needs to conserve some energy, for sure, heading into Aronimink.“