Introduction
Welcome to this week's edition of What's New in Golf.
The U.S. Open has once again delivered major championship drama, with Wyndham Clark taking control at Shinnecock Hills while several of the game's biggest names attempt to chase him down. Away from the course, golf's governing bodies have delayed one of the most controversial equipment changes in recent memory, and technology continues to influence how everyday golfers approach the game.
Here's what mattered most in golf this week.
🏆 Story of the Week
Wyndham Clark Takes Control Of The U.S. Open
When the U.S. Open arrived at Shinnecock Hills, much of the attention centred around Scottie Scheffler and his pursuit of the career Grand Slam.
Three rounds later, however, Wyndham Clark has become the story.
The American heads into the final round holding a commanding six-shot lead after producing some of the most disciplined golf of the week. On a course known for exposing weaknesses and punishing mistakes, Clark has repeatedly demonstrated patience, intelligent course management and confidence under pressure.
Shinnecock Hills is widely regarded as one of the toughest tests in championship golf. Narrow fairways, deep rough and firm greens leave little margin for error. Unlike many modern venues where distance dominates, success here requires complete control of every aspect of a player's game.
Clark has delivered exactly that.
Throughout the week he has avoided the big mistakes that have caught out many of his rivals. Rather than forcing aggressive shots, he has consistently played within himself and trusted his game plan.
Saturday's third round perfectly illustrated why he now sits so far ahead of the field. While several challengers struggled to maintain momentum, Clark continued to find fairways, make crucial par saves and capitalise on scoring opportunities when they appeared.
The result is one of the largest leads heading into a U.S. Open final round in recent memory.
A victory would give Clark a second U.S. Open title and firmly establish him among the elite players in world golf. While names such as Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau and Schauffele dominate many conversations around the modern game, another major championship would force golf fans to place Clark firmly alongside them.
The challenge now becomes handling expectation.
History suggests players holding a six-shot lead at a major championship rarely surrender it. Yet the U.S. Open has a reputation for producing drama, particularly on difficult courses where momentum can change quickly.
As Sunday unfolds, Clark remains the clear favourite. The question is no longer whether he can contend.
It's whether anyone can catch him...
⛳ Other Stories Worth Knowing
Golf's Ball Rollback Has Been Delayed Until 2030 — But What Does That Actually Mean?
Away from the U.S. Open, one of the biggest stories in golf came from the game's governing bodies.
The USGA and R&A confirmed that their proposed golf ball rollback plans will now be delayed until at least 2030.
For many golfers, the announcement raised an obvious question:
What exactly is the golf ball rollback?
In simple terms, golf's governing bodies believe modern golf balls travel too far, particularly when used by elite players with extremely high swing speeds. As professional golfers continue to hit the ball further each year, some of the sport's most historic courses are becoming increasingly difficult to protect without expensive renovations or course extensions.
The rollback proposal is designed to address that issue.
Under the original plan, manufacturers would be required to produce golf balls that travel slightly shorter distances under revised testing conditions. Tour professionals would likely see the biggest impact, with some estimates suggesting distance losses of 10 to 15 yards or more. Recreational golfers would likely notice much smaller changes, typically around 5 to 10 yards off the tee.
Supporters argue the rollback is necessary to preserve classic venues such as St Andrews, Augusta National and Shinnecock Hills. They believe golf courses should not need to become longer every decade simply to keep pace with advances in equipment technology.
Critics disagree.
Many golfers enjoy the distance gains modern equipment has delivered and argue that innovation should not be restricted. Others point out that most recreational golfers are not hitting the ball excessively far in the first place, making the proposed changes feel unnecessary.
For now, however, the debate remains exactly that — a debate.
The decision to delay implementation until at least 2030 means golfers will continue playing the same equipment for years to come while manufacturers, governing bodies and industry stakeholders continue discussions.
Why GPS Watches Continue To Gain Popularity
Golfers often focus on buying new clubs when searching for lower scores.
Increasingly, however, some of the biggest performance gains are coming from wearable technology rather than equipment.
GPS watches have become one of the fastest-growing product categories in golf because they solve a simple problem: decision making.
Many golfers lose shots not because they lack distance or swing speed, but because they choose the wrong club or fail to understand the risks presented by a particular hole.
Modern GPS watches provide instant access to front, middle and back yardages, hazard locations and detailed course information. For many golfers, that information leads directly to better decisions.
The result is often lower scores without making a single swing change.
For players looking to improve their course management, wearable technology may offer more value than the latest driver release.
💡 Tip of the Week
Stop Attacking Every Flag
One of the quickest ways to lower scores is to improve your target selection.
Instead of aiming directly at every flag, begin aiming for the largest safe section of the green.
This approach:
- Reduces short-sided misses
- Avoids penalty areas
- Increases greens in regulation
- Limits double bogeys
Professional golfers often play more conservatively than amateurs realise.
Better decisions frequently save more shots than better swings...