Justin Thomas Says 2019 Rule Changes Are Terrible

Thomas is another high profile name to speak out on the new Rules of Golf

Justin Thomas Says 2019 Rule Changes Are Terrible

Thomas is another high profile name to speak out on the new Rules of Golf

Justin Thomas Says 2019 Rule Changes Are Terrible

The new Rules of Golf haven't got off to the best of starts in 2019, with high profile names including the likes of Bryson DeChambeau and Adam Scott speaking negatively about them.

2013 Masters champion Adam Scott said golf was becoming a "laughing stock" and World Number Five Bryson DeChambeau described the knee-height drop as "a bit absurd".

Rickie Fowler was last week penalised for dropping at shoulder height and called the new procedure "terrible", going on to say that he believes it will get changed.

Another player has spoken out about them this week, with Justin Thomas also saying that they are "terrible".

JT was asked about Brooks Koepka's new outspoken style for 2019 and Thomas replied that he also wants to speak his mind in the media.

“[Koepka] is definitely not causing issues by any means and I feel I’m very similar.

"There’s no reason for me to sit up here and tell you guys I think the rules of the golf changes are great when I don’t. I think they’re terrible.

“So why would I say that?

"I think anything you can do that’s going to change the game positively, or have an impact on something, there’s no reason to feel like you need to hold back.”

“Pretty much all of them seemed like they didn’t better the game, to me,” Thomas told Golf.com in a follow-up.

Related: Justin Thomas on putting with the flagstick in - "I couldn't take myself seriously"

“I mean, the ball-dropping thing is weird, it doesn’t make sense.

"The tapping spike marks thing down — I understand that, but I think it’s a great amateur rule. I just think as a whole they just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV