Rory McIlroy’s Masters success has captured the imagination of golf supporters around the United Kingdom. The Northern Irishman’s career Grand Slam is expected to inspire a new wave of players, especially in the amateur ranks.
However, as a result, there is a risk that the controversial World Handicapping System (WHS) is exploited by some players, and the R&A have already spoken out to those looking to cheat the system for their own benefit.
McIlroy’s remarkable victory was viewed around the world last weekend, with the 35-year-old managing to hold his nerve to beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff after forfeiting a five-shot lead on the back nine. The scenes of the golf star dropping to his knees and shedding tears of joy at Augusta have been viewed around the world, but the iconic moment has set off alarm bells within the R&A.
The number of casual golfers is now expected to rocket as a result of the hype that has been brought about by McIlroy’s Grand Slam heroics. However, there are fears this could pose a problem.
It is no secret that the WHS, which was implemented in 2020, can be manipulated so that players can move their handicaps in the hope of increasing their chances of winning amateur competitions. The system provides player with a ‘handicap index’ which tells players the number of shots they should be aiming for at each course.
The system relies on players honestly submitting their scores to ensure the numbers are fair, and Grant Moir, the R&A’s executive director of governance, has warned players against abusing the system.
He told BBC Sport: “Through our research it’s clear that in Great Britain and Ireland there are some specific concerns around the system and particularly there is a perception that there are a small minority of players that are manipulating the system.
“We recognise that even if it is only a small number doing this then it can impact on competition golf and it negatively impacts on golfers’ opinions of WHS. We want to emphasise that deliberately breaching the rules is unacceptable and to frankly call out manipulation for what it is, which is cheating.”
Moir added: “The rules of golf and handicapping rely on the integrity of players, and we all need to be prepared to challenge any behaviour that lacks that integrity. We want golfers to take the same view on the rules of handicapping as they would on the rules of golf.
“We know that it is very, very rare for people to seek to play other than in accordance with the rules of golf and we need people to view the rules of handicapping in exactly the same way.”
