End is in sight for disputed putters

The end is in sight for those who like to tuck the belly-putter into their mid-rift, or to rest a broomhandle putter against their chins as golf’s fashion and doctrinal police have won the battle to get everyone back playing the conventional putting stroke. Now, it’s – almost – official, even if the dogs in the street knew the dictate was coming!

Although the actual long putters haven’t been outlawed, yesterday’s move by the RA and the USGA – the two governing bodies of golf worldwide – will make such clubs effectively obsolete from 1st January 2016 when the proposed new rule, which prohibits “anchoring” the club in making a stroke, comes into effect following a period of review.

The move will affect some high-profile players, among them Major champions Webb Simpson, Ernie Els and Keegan Bradley and also Adam Scott. Simpson and Bradley had intimated in recent weeks – when the writing was on the wall – that they would consider legal action. However, the pair, competing in this week’s World Challenge in California, have since mellowed that stance and are set to, as Bradley put it, “respect” the rule change.

Rather than making an equipment change to ban the long putters, the sport’s governing bodies have opted for a rule change to – the pertinent new rule being 141b – to prohibit “strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held directly against the player’s body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club”.

The threat of legal action from players has abated, but an indication of how seriously the RA took such potential action is that Peter Dawson, the chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, admitted in yesterday’s teleconference: “We believe very strongly that the governing bodies have the authority in the game to make rules changes. But we obviously need to do so responsibly. Once we are convinced we have done that, we would defend our position all the way up the legal system I’m quite certain.”

Legal action

When asked if the decision to make it a rule change rather than an equipment change had anything to do with possible legal action from club manufacturers, Dawson responded: “ . . . litigation is not something that we consider in any depth or with any seriousness when we are trying to do what’s right for the game of golf.”

The proposed new rule would not alter current equipment rules and would allow the continued use of all conforming golf clubs, including belly-length and long putters, provided such clubs are not anchored during a stroke.

Although long putters have been in use for three decades, the RA and USGA only seriously reviewed the subject of anchoring inside the past year which, coincidentally, followed the breakthrough win by Bradley using a long putter at the 2011 US PGA Championship and which was followed up by wins by Simpson in this year’s US Open and by Els in the British Open. Three of the last five Major winners have used either a belly-putter or broomhandle putter.

The proposed new rule doesn’t just apply to long putters, it will also apply to players, for example, anchoring utility clubs into their stomachs when playing shots from just off the green.

“Anchored strokes have very rapidly become the preferred option for a growing number of players, and this has caused us to review these strokes and their impact on the game. Our conclusion is that anchored strokes threaten to supplant traditional strokes, which with all their frailties are integral to the long-standing character of our sport. Our objective is to preserve the skill and challenge, which is such a key element of the game of golf,” explained Dawson.

As the USGA’s Mike Davis expanded: “This is going to be focused just on anchored strokes. In no way does the RA and the USGA want to stifle creativity in making strokes by golfers. This is all about the future of the game. It’s about us defining the game, defining a stroke, clarifying a very controversial and divisive situation . . . and, ultimately, golf gets back to holding the club with two hands and swinging it freely.”

The proposed rule won’t come into force until 1st January 2016 and the period of review is to “give stakeholders in the game the opportunity to put forward any new matters for consideration”. The RA and the USGA, given their methodical and thorough approaches to such matters, don’t tend to miss anything. It is, to all inxtents and purposes, a done deal.

Players compliance Painless transition

The acceptance of their fate by the likes of Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson will mean the banning of the anchoring stroke will likely make the implementation of the proposed new rule rather more straightforward than envisaged.

“I’m not happy with the ruling . . . but I’m going to accept the challenge and hopefully do well when they do ban it,” said Bradley, who became the first golfer to win a Major with a belly-putter when he claimed the US PGA last year.

“It’ll be an adjustment (going back to the short putter) but one that I think I can handle.”

Simpson knew where there was smoke, there would be fire. “I expected the day to come,” admitted the US Open champion.

The announcement of the proposed new ruling was generally well received by tour players with world number one Rory McIlroy fully endorsing the move. “Fully agree with the anchoring ban. Better image for the game of golf, skill and nerves are all part of the game. Level playing field in 16,” tweeted McIlroy.

“The only decision that could be made,” observed Graeme McDowell.

Jack Nicklaus, though, was to the point. “Players will adjust,” he said.

Anchored putting Proposed change

The proposed change would re-label current Rule 14-1 as Rule 14-1a, and establish Rule 14-1b:

14-1b Anchoring the Club

In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either “directly” or by use of an “anchor point”.

Note 1: The club is anchored “directly” when the player intentionally holds the club or a gripping hand in contact with any part of his body, except that the player may hold the club or a gripping hand against a hand or forearm.

Note 2: An “anchor point” exists when the player intentionally holds a forearm in contact with any part of his body to establish a gripping hand as a stable point around which the other hand may swing the club.