"The decision to defile arguably the most renowned hole in golf reveals how little confidence the R&A has in the efficacy of next year's change from box to v-grooves"

The most blistering commentary yet on the R&A lengthening the Road hole comes from the Irish Independent's Karl MacGinty:

Golf ball and club technology has made St Andrews vulnerable and if the wind doesn't blow, the winner's score at next year's British Open could plumb much lower than Tiger's record 19-under in 2000, a thought which would make the right-minded promoter of any Major cringe.

The Royal and Ancient and their American counterparts, the USGA, must accept the blame for falling asleep on their watch as technology ran riot in the 1990s, rendering many classic golf courses obsolete.
The decision to defile arguably the most renowned hole in golf reveals how little confidence the R&A has in the efficacy of next year's change from box to v-grooves as a curb on the longer-hitters. Supposedly this will increase the premium in staying on the straight, short and narrow.