Negative hardness gradient inner core for dual core golf ball

A golf ball comprising:

• an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous formulation throughout, the formulation comprising an antioxidant and an initiator present in a ratio of about 0.40 or greater when normalized to 100% activity, such that the inner core has a hardness of 60 Shore C to 90 Shore C;
• an intermediate layer disposed about the inner core having an outer surface and an inner surface and being formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising an ionomer whose acid groups are 100% neutralized such that the intermediate layer has a hardness of 20 Shore D to 80 Shore D;
• and
• a cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer;
• wherein a hardness of the outer surface of the inner core is 61 Shore C to 83 Shore C and is lower than a hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient having a magnitude of up to −10, and a hardness of the outer surface of the intermediate layer is substantially the same as a hardness of the inner surface to define a zero hardness gradient.