One of the hottest issues at last week’s Masters (besides spiked-up greens) centered on how far the high-tech golf ball is traveling these days. According to Masters chairman Hootie Johnson, the members at Augusta National are considering a move to one uniform ball to be used by the entire field in future tournaments (ital)if(nonital) the U.S. Golf Association doesn’t do something first.

“It’s an option we wouldn’t want to take off the table,’’ Johnson said during his annual state-of-the-green-jackets press conference. “We’re hoping that the governing bodies will do something about what most everyone in golf considers to be a serious problem.’’

Maybe Johnson saw it coming like a 330-yard Tiger Woods drive. Or maybe someone tipped Hootie that the USGA was about to make its move against the golf ball and the manufacturers who produce them.

Whatever the case, a letter on that very subject authored by the USGA arrived at places like Titlelist, Callaway, Maxfli and Bridgestone on Monday, according to Golfweek.

“In a bold move that serves notice of the U.S. Golf Association’s intent to resolve the golf ball issue, the USGA has formally solicited the participation of golf ball manufacturers in a research project on ball performance,’’ Golfweek reported.

According to the national magazine, which did not reveal how it got a copy of the USGA’s letter, the manufacturers will be asked to comply with modified rules that would reduce maximum ball distance by 15 to 25 yards. There is not timetable for modifications or changes.

The letter apparently was written by the USGA’s technical director, Dick Rugge, and is based on a hypothetical set of modified rules that are the result of research currently being conducted by the USGA and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

“We have identified multiple parameters that can be altered to affect ball distance,’’ Rugge wrote in the letter. “We believe that it is now appropriate to give golf ball manufacturers an opportunity to participate in the research project and thereby become involved in the rule-change process if that becomes necessary.’’

Translation: When the lawsuits come, assuming the ball will be scaled back, there will be precedent that the manufacturers were treated fairly, something that became an issue when PING won its lawsuit in the late 1990s against the PGA Tour, and to a lesser degree the USGA, over square grooves.

Last week at the Masters, Jack Nicklaus called on the tournament committee to do what the governing bodies of golf have yet to act on: scale back the ball, which these days often soars 300-plus yards.

“There’s only one place that could do that, and that would be here,’’ Nicklaus said, a reference to Augusta National running its own tournament outside regulations of the PGA Tour and the PGA of America, even though it employs USGA rules with the addition of a few local rules.

“This is the only tournament that could get away with saying, ‘Do you want to come play in the Masters? Here’s the ball, go play.’ ’’

Nicklaus said he is worried that if the golf ball keeps getting longer, so will Augusta National, which has been stretched to 7,290 yards, up more than 300 yards from its original routing.

“What Hootie did to this golf course two years ago was ahead of the curve,’’ Nicklaus noted. “In one year (2004), he got behind the curve again. He doesn’t know where to go.’’

Nicklaus said the USGA, PGA Tour, R&A and tournaments like the Masters could say to manufacturers that they want a ball that is 10 to 12 percent restricted and approved before next year.

“How long would it take players to get used to that? Two rounds of golf, maybe,’’ he said.

Nicklaus’ suggestion seems to be just where the USGA is headed, although it is unclear whether current balls on the market also would be reined in.