USGA's Davis: "Before Ted Bishop, trust me, there was a different mindset with the PGA of America."

Cameron Morfit has a lively Golf Magazine exchange with USGA Executive Director Mike Davis on a variety of pre-U.S. Open topics, including the financial potential of Merion and the anchoring ban.

This shed a little light on the state of USGA-PGA of America relations:

To what extent did you coalition-build with the PGA and the PGA Tour?

We went to the different key groups, whether it's the state and regional golf associations or the LPGA Tour, or the PGA of America, the PGA Tour. It wasn't as if the key leaders in the game weren't aware of this. Sometimes key leaders change their mind. Before Ted Bishop, trust me, there was a different mindset with the PGA of America. But listen, the PGA of America and Ted Bishop, and the PGA Tour and Tim Finchem, have done exactly what we asked them to do. We had a 90-day comment period for the rule, and it's a divisive rule. But they've never specifically said they're not going to follow this rule. People want to think we're at war with the PGA of America and the PGA Tour and it's just not the case. We work with them all the time and this happens to be one issue where we differ, but we asked for their opinion. You should know, too, that we've gotten a lot of input from others who have been incredibly supportive.