When looking at the top level of professional golf at the moment, it's difficult to remember a time when there was such a talented playing pool.
Whereas previous eras quite often consisted of a handful of big names that were well ahead of the rest, that isn't really the case anymore. Every major brings with it a sizeable group of players that could win it, meaning it is now more difficult than ever to rack up wins in the sport's four biggest events.
Advances in both sports science and technology have certainly played a part in that.
Players are now hitting the ball further than ever, with the advances in technology helping in that regard. Golfers are now also more in tune with the scientific part of the game, especially when it comes to things such as a physical conditioning.
As well as that, a complete change in mentality has occurred among the top golfers in the world. That is something that was first introduced by Rory McIlroy.
Padraig Harrington explains how Rory McIlroy changed golf
Rory McIlroy was a revelation when he first burst onto the scene as a professional. His talent was one thing, but his approach to the game was what elevated him above his competitors.
Speaking on the No Laying Up podcast, Padraig Harrington explained how McIlroy forever altered how the game was played at the top level.
I think Rory McIlroy changed the game.
Rory came in in about 2010 or 2011, and he was the first long hitter that played like a long hitter. The rest were all bullied into playing like short hitters. It was amazing.
All the long hitters up until 2011, they would hit irons off the tee on par-4s, they would hit it in the same places that the short hitters would hit it. Rory just came out and he just hit driver.
The likes Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, and J.B. Holmes who were the other long hitters at the time, they saw Rory doing and thought 'we can do this as well'. They started hitting drivers and their best performances came after Rory came and they started doing the same thing...
Rory changed the game like that. Now all of the long hitters, they play to their strengths, hit drivers, and take their chances.
Up to that it wasn't important to be a long hitter, because at the end of the day none of them were any good, in terms of their play.
Once Rory came along, you had to be in that number because the likelihood was that one of the winners was going to come from that group.
Back in the day, you were trying to beat one long hitter. Now you're trying to beat 50 of them. If you're not one of that 50, it's rare for somebody outside of that 50 to be really in contention.
Certainly an interesting observation.
It is true that length is now more important than ever when it comes to competing for the biggest prizes in golf, with distance seemingly increasing on tour season by season.
It had been suggested that authorities could look to limit this moving forward. However, the distance players are hitting the ball will keep moving forward until that change comes.
SEE ALSO: Leona Maguire Thanks Padraig Harrington For Help After LPGA Victory
