US PGA to obey anchored putting ban
Tour seeks temporary reprieve for amateurs, amid worries they may quit the game otherwise
The US PGA Tour will follow a new rule that bans the anchored putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, but will ask for a temporary reprieve for those who play the game for fun.
The announcement after a tour board meeting is the final piece of confirmation from a major golf organisation for Rule 14-1b, which will take effect on January 1, 2016 when the next Rules of Golf is published. The rule makes it illegal for players to attach the end of the club to their body to make a stroke.
Adam Scott used a long putter held against his chest when he won the Masters. Ernie Els (British Open) and Webb Simpson (US Open) used a belly putter last year. Keegan Bradley in the 2011 US PGA Championship was the first major champion with a belly putter.
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club and US Golf Association proposed the new rule in November and allowed for a three-month comment period. It formally adopted the rule in May.
PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said in February the tour was opposed to the new rule because there were no data to suggest an advantage and no "overriding reason to go down that road". The tour's opinion was shaped by a players-only meeting that month.
"In making its decision, the policy board recognised that there are still varying opinions among our membership, but ultimately concluded that while it is an important issue, a ban on anchored strokes would not fundamentally affect a strong presentation of our competitions or the overall success of the PGA Tour," Finchem said.