Borrowed time: R&A review committee likely to put long-and belly-putter on notice

Different strokes, a golf miscellany by  PHILIP REID

The confirmation that almost 28 per cent of the field in the British Open used either a broomhandle or belly-putter tells all anyone needs to know about the growing popularity of such clubs, and why the RA and the USGA – the governing bodies of the sport – are in the midst of “discussions” about what to do about them.

No fewer than 27 players utilised long putters and 16 used belly-putters at Royal Lytham and St Annes, with the first and second placed players among them.

The subject is firmly back on the radar. As Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the RA, put it yesterday: “I think you’re going to see us saying something about it one way or the other in a few months rather than a few years. It is under active discussion.”

Interestingly, the two governing bodies are examining the issue of long- and belly-putters from a method of stroke standpoint rather than a length of putter standpoint, which takes it away from equipment and into the area of rules of play.

Whereas equipment changes can be made annually, rules changes are only made every four years which means the earliest change – if any – regarding the stance on long-putters would be 2016 when the quadrennial review takes place and a new rules book is issued.

“I do stress this decision has not been taken. It has not,” said Dawson, although later he expanded by saying: “If (it) were to happen and we were to announce it in the reasonably near future, I think the amount of notice people would be getting of the change would be perfectly reasonable.”

The issue with the long-putters is that of anchoring a club to the body and whether it will be considered a violation of the rules, with Dawson revealing that one of the most common objections he hears from professionals is this: “If people have become failed putters in the conventional way, why should they have a crutch to come back and compete against me when I haven’t failed in the conventional way?”

“That’s the general argument one hears. But we’re also seeing now people who can putt perfectly well in the conventional way thinking an anchored stroke gives them an advantage. I think that’s the fundamental change that we’ve witnessed in the last couple of years.”

The review committee has met during the Masters, the US Open and most recently at the British Open and is scheduled to meet again in September after which more light is likely to be shed on the issue.

The consensus, though, is the day of the long- and belly-putter is limited. It is on borrowed time.

Easy 16th: but not for Scott

It won’t have done Adam Scott any good to know the 16th hole – where he had a three-putt bogey – played as the second easiest hole of Sunday’s final round. The average score on the par four was 3.831, with 20 birdies and 46 pars. Scott’s bogey was one of 21 bogeys. The hole played as the easiest of the championship.

Penalty or not: Kneeling on a towel

Broomhandle may be swept away

Q A player’s ball was under a tree in such a position that he found it necessary to make his next stroke while on his knees. Because the ground was wet, the player placed a towel on the ground at the spot where his knees would be situated so that the knees of his trousers would not get wet. He then knelt on the towel and made the stroke. Was the player subject to penalty under Rule 13-3 for building a stance?

A Yes. Under Rule 13-3/2 the player would receive a two-stroke penalty. The same answer would apply if he had wrapped the towel around his knees and knelt on it to make the stroke.

However, it would have been permissible for the player to have put on waterproof trousers.

On course: Els constructing major design portfolio in Asia

The “Big Easy” proved he can still play more than a bit by winning his fourth Major title at Royal Lytham and St Annes on Sunday but the smooth-swinging South African also has a hectic business life away from playing the game.

His company – Ernie Els Design – is involved in the construction phase of some of Asia’s largest golf projects, including two major leisure destinations in Malaysia: an 18-hole course at the eco-resort Teluk Djat in Langkawi and a 27-hole course at a luxury development in Johor.

The investment company behind the golf resorts was established by the Malaysian government to develop projects within its leisure and tourism portfolio. Els and his design team recently completed their second site inspection in Johor and approved the first set of holes.

IN THE BAG

Ernie Els

(British Open champion)

Driver: Callaway RAZR Fit (8.5 degree)

Fairway Woods: 3-wood – Callaway X-TOUR ’08 (15 degree)

Utility Clubs: Callaway X Prototype (18 degrees, 21 degrees, 24 degrees)

Irons: Callaway RAZR X Muscleback Irons (5-9, PW)

Wedges: Callaway JAWS (52 degree, 60 degree)

Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG #1 Belly Putter (44.5“)

Ball: Callaway HEX Black Tour Ball

Shoes: Callaway Del Mar

On the eve of the championship, Els had his clubmaker Roger Cleveland tweak his utility clubs by flattening the lie angle of all three (18, 21, 24-degree) by half a degree.