Tour News

PGA Tour reverses course, bans anchored putting

Published

11 years ago

Jul 1, 2013

The PGA Tour released a statement on Monday that may prove the death knell of anchored putting strokes in professional golf.

The Tour formalized its agreement with the United States Golf Association and Royal & Ancient Golf Club-led movement to ban putting strokes where the butt-end of the putter is fixed to a non-arm part of the body. The ban, initially explored in November 2012, was confirmed by the USGA and R&A, with Jan. 1, 2016, as a proposed start date. The provision will be covered under Rule 14-1b in the Rules of Golf, revised every four years by the USGA.

Monday’s statement comes as the result of a meeting of the nine-member PGA Tour Policy Board. In addition to the main lock-step nature of the resolution, one small caveat comes out of the Board’s decision: a “strong recommendation” from not only the Tour but the PGA of America that the USGA offer amateurs a longer grace period before they must abandon anchored putting strokes than the current 2.5 years for professionals.

The Policy Board’s contention, articulated by Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, is that “extending the time period the ban would go into effect for amateurs would be beneficial for golf participation and the overall health of the game.” This position echoes that taken by the Tour during the previous major equipment-related decree by the USGA: the 2008-proposed amendment to the rule regarding the sharpness of grooves on wedges. That rule, having taken effect at the highest levels of the competitive game, does not become golf law for amateurs until 2024.

This decision was expected, but nonetheless brings back to the surface an issue that dominated the winter of 2012-2013, professional golf’s de facto offseason. During that time, a coalition of nine PGA Tour members, including 2010 Players Champion Tim Clark, Carl Pettersson and 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott retained legal counsel to explore potential future litigation related to the issue. It makes some sense — these players have for a number of years (especially in the case of Pettersson, who has used a split-grip long putter anchored to his chest since college more than a decade ago) been under the assumption that the way they putted was legal and legitimate. Little talk — certainly none from the game’s governing bodies — of the legitimacy of that manner of putting had taken place until a run of majors won by anchor-putters began with Keegan Bradley at the 2010 PGA Championship and continued intermittently through this year’s Masters.

The timing, this group of players may well argue, makes the USGA and R&A appear to be concerned more with the aesthetics of conventional putting than the actual physical ease of anchored putting, which is still practiced by a relatively small minority of players. A great deal of the support from the ban seems to consist in claims about golf’s “tradition” and “spirit,” two decidedly nebulous concepts.

But golf’s next Law & Order episode is still in pre-production, as it were. Monday’s news merely confirmed much of the golf world’s expectations: that the PGA Tour would not wade into the USGA’s rule-making pond by formally rebuking the ban and touching off the widely-dreaded B-word — bifurcation —
in a game that has, at times despite its best efforts, avoided it.

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Tim Gavrich

Tim grew up outside of Hartford, Conn., playing most of his formative golf at Hop Meadow Country Club in the town of Simsbury. He played golf for four years at Washington & Lee University (Division-III) and now lives in Pawleys Island, S.C., and works in nearby Myrtle Beach in advertising. He's not too bad on Bermuda greens, for a Yankee. A lifelong golf addict, he cares about all facets of the game of golf, from equipment to course architecture to PGA Tour news to his own streaky short game.

22 Comments

Brad

Jul 5, 2013 at 7:45 pm

It’s very simple…the whole point of the game of golf is to not “ANCHOR” any club….Right!?? Why is anyone confused on why they are banning the “ANCHORED” putter when it is an obvious loop hole for those who are to weak to putt like it was intended. As much as we think golf should change it’s not going to…there is no reason to change something that is as glorious as time itself. ~Play it as it lies~

Reply Report comment
- Steff
  
  Jul 6, 2013 at 4:45 pm
  
  I thought the point of golf was to get the ball in the hole……
  
  Reply Report comment
Rich

Jul 4, 2013 at 4:16 am

I think it was hard for the Pros to decide to bite the hand that feeds them and the spending of their money to pay legal feeds!

Reply Report comment
Andy Elliot

Jul 3, 2013 at 10:09 pm

Personally, I don’t see where folks are finding evidence that it is advantageous to us an anchored putter. I went to a belly for a year and putted marginally better, then went back to short and have putted considerably better than with the belly and have had better feel on long lag putts. All most likely due to technique not equipment. It’s a shame the governing bodies let it get so deeply ingrained before addressing it. It has surfaced bitterness among some short putters who feel they have been unfairly beaten by their anchoring buddies and disappointment among those who found new confidence and enjoyment with anchoring.

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RCM1301

Jul 3, 2013 at 10:21 am

Ridiculous! So what’s next to ban? Jim Furyk’s swing? In my eyes that surely is not in the “tradition” and “spirit” of the game – it is eye soring.

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chris franklin

Jul 3, 2013 at 5:54 am

Which planet do you live on if you think that bifurcation is not already a reality?
Tour professionals do not play to the same rules of golf as amateurs.
As for tradition and spirit being ‘nebulous concepts’that may be true of the professional game where players are too ill mannered to remove a cap when shaking hands but is not the case amongst amateurs who make an effort to show respect and courtesy.
If pro golf ended tomorrow the effect on the majority of golfers would be ZERO,as an apparent pro golf fanboy you attach too much importance to the affairs of the overpaid few.

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Marc

Jul 2, 2013 at 11:46 pm

It is currently allowed so cannot be referred to as cheating. I do believe that the anchor will not benefit better putters, but those that have a challenge controlling their arms, push/pull, etc. Tiger has stated he has tried it and putts horribly with it. Partially, because he controls his motion as good or better than anyone. I also find it ugly to look at. However, I play a lot at various courses and have only seen one person using one. IMO, anchoring does go against the spirit of the game, but it has been around forever and they should have taken action earlier.

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John Gates

Jul 2, 2013 at 10:31 pm

The reason they banned it was because Tiger Woods complained, plain and simple. Money talks.

Reply Report comment
- RCM1301
  
  Jul 3, 2013 at 10:22 am
  
  Spot on.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - John Gates
    
    Jul 4, 2013 at 4:12 am
    
    thank you
    
    Reply Report comment
billy bob

Jul 2, 2013 at 9:45 pm

PGA Tour just isnt big enough to go against the ban by themselves so it was an obvious out come.

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dapadre

Jul 2, 2013 at 7:03 am

Good judgement. It would have been bad for the game if the PGA had ruled otherwise. The players that may litigate will eventually lose, as well as the game itself and the only ones to win will be lawyers. The governing bodies have the right to amend the rules as they see fit in the spirit of the game (baring exemptions given ie medical as in Tim Clark’s situation if given). But in someways, I do feel the goofed this up. Im totally against belly putting as I do think it gives an advantage. The argument that if it were an advantage everyone would do it bears no creadance. Its like saying every sporter that takes steroids will perform well, NOT TRUE, but yet its banned. They should have banned this earlier as it does seem to suggest that because many BP’s have won most recent majors (4 majors since 2011) its been targetted.

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- steff
  
  Jul 2, 2013 at 7:42 am
  
  “The argument that if it were an advantage everyone would do it bears no creadance. Its like saying every sporter that takes steroids will perform well, NOT TRUE, but yet its banned”
  
  You could not be more wrong! We are talking about a sport were every shot counts and the margin between winning and coming second is super thin. Every player on tour has tried a long putter. And if they feel that it will improve their game they will put it in their bag. Its as easy as that. And the example with steroids is just stupid! You can die and seriously damage your health from steroids and thats not the case with the long putter.
  
  Grow up and mind your own business instead!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - dapadre
    
    Jul 2, 2013 at 10:22 am
    
    Steff, judging by the tone of you response, I think the citation of growing up would suit you best, but thats a different argument and I wont stoop to that level. Thats one reason I play golf, its one of the remaining sports where respect still holds true.
    
    Secondly, I wasnt aware that it was not my business, but would you be so kind as to inform the rest of us why its ONLY YOURS?
    
    This has nothing to do with margins, as in track and fields fractions of seconds count. Steroids when done under medical supervision has limited risks, you can check past users. Every player on the tour has NOT tried it and those that had didnt use it for all reasons ( look, feel etc) BUT that doesnt mean their is not an advantage. Also the spirit of the game is NOT to anchor the putter, period.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Bryan
      
      Jul 2, 2013 at 11:30 am
      
      Dapadre, “…and I wont stoop to that level.” Just by typing that you did, in fact, stoop to that level. Next time try to show some of that respect that you said you love in golf, period.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Steff
        
        Jul 2, 2013 at 6:01 pm
        
        dapadre, you are comparing something that is cheating with something thats not! And you will never be able to cheat with a belly putter because, well its obvious….everybody can se if you are using one after 2016.
        
        To call anchoring cheating you will atleast need some statistical evidence to proov it. And what I know there is´nt any!
        
        And regarding whos business it is to complain and whine about what others do… Well thats no ones business.
        
        I will gladly let everyone using an anchored putting stroke continue to use one and spend my time getting better at golf instead and I suggest you do the same!
        
        Reply Report comment
  - golfnazi
    
    Jul 5, 2013 at 1:36 am
    
    I agree with you.Look where banning gets us in government.Innovation , Individualism, natural progression and imagination is squashed.I loathe traditionalists that rob everyone else of their freedom of expression.
    
    Reply Report comment
- ssf
  
  Jul 2, 2013 at 4:21 pm
  
  There are valid arguments for the USGA to ban the anchored putter, but the anchored putter conferring an advantage is not one of them. The statistics since it’s use show this and the USGA already admits that they don’t have any data to substantiate that the anchored putter confers an advantage. The reason that the USGA gives for banning the anchored putter is that they don’t believe that this technique constitutes as a “golf swing” in the spirit of golf. Personally, I think that aesthetics is the other reason which they won’t admit to.
  
  Reply Report comment
- RCM1301
  
  Jul 3, 2013 at 10:35 am
  
  Comparing anchored putter to steriods? Not very bright!
  
  Reply Report comment
esketores

Jul 2, 2013 at 6:50 am

Bad headline… It was “anchored putting” that was banned.

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Mateo

Jul 2, 2013 at 12:53 am

Finally!!! Bench those cheating sticks people!!!!!!

Reply Report comment
Jnradioactive

Jul 1, 2013 at 9:45 pm

WooHoo!!!

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