Have you noticed how golf at the PGA Tour level has changed dramatically? Instead of talking about a player’s “sweet swing,’’ all the emphasis these days is on the bada-bing.

Translated: Big hitters are dominating the Tour like never before.

How this all pans out should be interesting. I keep expecting the U.S. Golf Association to lay down the law, since the Tour apparently has nothing to gain and only a lawsuit to lose.

In fact, the USGA is currently conducting tests on reining back the ball in conjunction with every manufacturer in the world. Just don’t expect Titleist or Callaway or Maxfli to give up much ground any time soon.

Like you, I enjoy driving the ball as far as I can. But I was bothered by the comments from USGA official James Vernon, who was the guest speaker at last week’s Arizona Golf Association Awards Dinner at Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix.

Vernon is the 2006 chairman of the Equipment Standards Committee. He also is in his first year as vice president of the USGA after serving as a member of the Executive Committee for the past three years.

In other words, Vernon knows golf. And what he said about the high-tech ball in relation to how far its traveling these days deserves our attention.

For instance, Vernon mentioned how all of this bombing the ball has led to a “deskilling of the golf swing.’’ And, yeah, he’s right, as Tiger Woods doesn’t resemble Bobby Jones or Ben Hogan in any way, shape or form.

And face it, everybody wants to be like Tiger, and if that means hitting it a mile and then searching for it, so be it. That Woods ranks No. 9 in distance (302.9 yards per drive), No. 140 in accuracy and No.3 in money ($2.16 million) says it all.

According to Vernon, higher swing speeds are “more about athleticism’’ and less about rhythm and tempo.

“Today, there is no correlation -- none -- between driving accuracy and winning on the PGA Tour,’’ Vernon pointed out. “But there is a clear increase (in money won) for players who drive it over 300 yards.’’

Vernon said it’s gotten to the point where the Tour’s motto – “These guys are good!” – is debatable.

“Maybe,’’ he said of the Tour’s claim. “But more and more, they’re hitting it off-center and getting away with it.’’

Dubbed the “Baby Bombers,’’ Bubba Watson, J.B. Holmes, Camilo Villegas, Bill Haas, Lucas Glover, Geoff Ogilvy, Robert Garrigus, Arron Oberholser and the “other Bubba” -- Dickerson -- are saying: “Hey, if it works for Tiger, it works for me, too.’’

The results back their claim, as Holmes already has captured the FBR Open this year while ranking No. 2 in distance (312.9 yards per drive) and a distant No. 155 in accuracy.

Even the slender Villegas is No. 9 in driving (308.5 yards) and No. 11 in money ($1.25 million) without finding the short grass (No. 162).

Obviously, the chief culprit in creating this trend towards athleticism vs. skill is Woods. That his Nike ball adds to his prowess is no surprise, as every pro has a ball customized to his swing speed.

In fact, of the top-five money winners this season, only David Toms is a punch-and-Judy hitter. The rest – Rory Sabbatini, Ogilvy, Woods and Chad Campbell – are all bashers.