Different strokes

Inane 'fans' stoop low to abuse Bradley:The long and the short of it is the RA and the USGA have put the proposed rule change on anchoring putters into a public forum. Still, the treatment meted out to Keegan Bradley – called a "cheater" when heckled by "fans" during Saturday's third round of the World Challenge – is further evidence of a deterioration in spectator etiquette at tournaments.

In fairness to the USGA, a statement was issued post haste to condemn the heckling and pointing out that there will be no change in the existing rule (until January 2016). “This is a deplorable incident, and there is no place in our game for this kind of behaviour. As we noted when announcing proposed Rule 14-1b, it has been and remains entirely within the Rules of Golf for players to anchor the club while making a stroke. There should not be a shred of criticism of such players or any qualification or doubt about their achievements, and we think that it is inappropriate even to suggest anything to the contrary. Rule changes address the future and not the past. Up until now and until such time as a Rule change were to be implemented, golfers using an anchored stroke will have been playing by the Rules of Golf.

“We are sorry that Keegan had to experience this unfounded criticism from an obviously uneducated spectator. Instead, Keegan and other PGA Tour professionals should be commended for their maturity and grace in managing through a proposed change to the Rules of Golf.

“While we understand that the proposed Rules change would cause some short-term angst, we believe the new Rule would serve the long-term best interest of the game.”

The Bradley incident will – hopefully – be seen as a one-off but, unfortunately, the idiots who attend tournaments to shout absurdities like “get in the hole” (on tee shots on Par 4s and Pars 5s) and “mashed potatoes” and such like are still around.

Could golf’s governing bodies possibly bring in a rule to silence such inanities?

Seve Tribute's box set a sure-fire winner

The European Tour’s online store was inundated with hits on the Sunday of the Ryder Cup at Medinah, when stay-at-home fans used their laptops and smartphones to leave the cyber shelves cleared out by the time Martin Kaymer sank the putt that ensured Jose Maria Olazabal’s team retained the famed trophy.

The reason for the massive number of hits – and sales – was the tour put up replica clothing similar to that worn by the European team, complete with the embroidered tribute to Seve Ballesteros which so inspired Olazabal’s men in the fightback that left the United States shell-shocked.

If the sold out icon was put up on the tour’s website quicker than anyone could have envisaged, at least the European Tour have reacted wisely in releasing a special limited edition box set, (supplied by Glenmuir) for the Christmas market with all proceeds going to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation.

Inspired by the homage paid to Seve by Team Europe, the box sets comprise a shirt and sweater combination in Seve’s iconic blue and white Sunday colours. The garments feature not only the Official 2012 Ryder Cup match shield embroidered on the chest, but also the unique “Seve Tribute” embroidery on the left arm that so inspired Europe to such great heights on the final Sunday in Medinah.

The unique and exclusively designed Seve Tribute embroidery incorporates the Spaniard’s trademark silhouette of his celebration at the 1984 Open Championship, his name, the years he lived and five stars signifying each of his Major championship victories and is identical to the embroidery worn by the 12 players who produced the greatest European comeback in Ryder Cup history to win 14½–13½ in Chicago.

Quote of the week

"We like to say that it's all about the processes and going through the motions and trying to get better. But let's be honest, we all measure
ourselves by the wins" – Graeme McDowell on why it's all about the "W".

Number of the week: 11:

The number of Irish tour players with full cards on the European Tour in 2013
following David Higgins' successful effort at the Q-School finals. Higgins
joins Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington, Peter
Lawrie, Michael Hoey, Paul McGinley,  Damien McGrane, Darren Clarke and
Gareth Maybin on the circuit.

Twitter talk . . .

"Great playing by @GraemeMcDowell. Dude was a warrior. Awesome week here at Sherwood. Thanks to the tiger woods foundation for a gr8 wk" – Keegan Bradley gives due credit to his final round conqueror Graeme McDowell.

"Thanks for all your support this year guys!! The "W" showed up. Better late than never. Great way to finish" – G-Mac borrows some of Tiger Woods's phraseology to recognise his three-shot victory in the World Challenge in California.

The rules

Q:In replacing his ball but before putting it back into play, a player firmly presses the ball into the surface of the putting green in order to prevent it from being moved by the wind or gravity. What is the ruling?

A:In altering the surface of the putting green, the player has breached Rule 1-2 by intentionally taking action to influence the movement of a ball in play and to alter physical conditions that affect the playing of the hole. In matchplay, the player loses the hole – Rule 1-2. In strokeplay, the player incurs a penalty of two strokes and must play the ball as it lies – Rule 1-2.

In the bag

Graeme McDowell

(World challenge)

Ball: Srixon Z Star

Shoes: Ecco

Driver: Cleveland Classic (9 degree)

Fairway woods: Cleveland Launcher (15 degree), Adams Idea Pro a12 Hybrid (18 degree), Adams Idea Pro a7 Hybrid (19 degree)

Irons: Srixon Z-Tx 2

Lob wedge: Cleveland 588 (56 degree)

Putter: Odyssey White #7