Colin Montgomerie has backed plans to change regulations for golf clubs that will make it harder for players to get out of the rough.
The Royal and Ancient's proposals aim to make driving accuracy more important in golf.
Montgomerie told Five Live it is time tournaments were not decided by the quality of the players' equipment.
"You have difficult shots that are easier to pull off. Anything that makes it tougher is a plus for the game."
The Scot added: "Now with extra technology and people hitting the ball an awful long way we've found that, statistically, accuracy doesn't matter the same as length.
"This is what they're obviously trying to get back to.
"They want the benefit of the shot to be how accurate it is rather than how far it actually goes. All credit to them for acknowledging that statistic. Let's hope it works."
However, the sport's record Major winner Jack Nicklaus is not convinced the plans go far enough.
The 67 year old believes the distance the ball travels is the sport's problem.
"If you change the ball you could bring about 17,000 golf courses, that are basically obsolete to the professional, back into play for a possible event," he said.