newrider
The USGA can't "make all tours" conform to their rules/initiatives, although the PGA Tour has always maintained a close relationship with the USGA over the years as it relates to rules and ensuring that the equipment used has been conforming to USGA rules standards.
That said.... back when the anchored stoke (for belly and long putters) was being considered to be banned, the USGA agreed to a period of open discussion from the PGA Tour and the PGA of America prior to making it official. Both the PGA and the PGA Tour expressed hesitance to jump onboard. In fact, the PGA president himself, Ted Bishop (at the time) and Tour commissioner Tim Finchem (at the time) both were considering not honoring the rule. They felt that it was unneeded and could jeopardize recreational interest/fan interest. But both associations eventually agreed that the rules set forth by the USGA should be honored for the greater good, and the USGA made it official several months later. But the PGA and the PGA Tour wasn't exactly fond of the new rule change.
All of this talk about the ball being too long, or club equipment being too advantageous, is simply talk of old men who sit on a board in Far Hills, NJ getting paid 7 figures for sitting on their asses all day in their offices and attempting to justify their relevance.
The same people, mind you, who instituted the rule just a year ago that a club-level player (who maintains an official handicap) would be required to play with another member/player to be able to post a score.
The same people who didn't give two shits that an anchored putting stroke that helped those suffering from back problems should still nevertheless be banned.
The same people who several years back said that the square grooves in your clubs would eventually be banned and require you to buy new conforming equipment.
The same people who probably don't play but a handful of rounds per year.... these are the people begging for membership dues money from people like me and you, trying to convince us that they still have OUR interests at heart, while making the game more difficult and expensive for us.
They can go to hell. They've botched numerous US Opens over the past several years with their stupid layouts and unexplainable rulings.
To hell with them. The PGA Tour doesn't need them anymore than we do. The PGA Tour isn't bound by contract to follow the USGA guidelines. They're a private entity, just like each of us are.