Official - Anchoring to be Banned

[daveyc2k2]

Just seen this has now been confirmed. Anchoring the putter will be banned from January 2016.

What are your thoughts and what about those pros who all anchor at the moment?? When will they change?

 

[Birchy]

About time too. Smart pros will start getting used to another non anchor method straight away i would imagine. Some might leave it as late as possible if they are really bad without an anchored stroke.

 

[Tongo]

Just seen this has now been confirmed. Anchoring the putter will be banned from January 2016.

What are your thoughts and what about those pros who all anchor at the moment?? When will they change?

Big decision that one. Will there be legal challenges?

I'm in favour of the old traditional method. Its no coincidence, in my opinion, that Ernie Els and Adam Scott were doing little, changed to the long putter and win major championships. Plus it is worrying that young players are using them now rather than traditional putters.

Then again, we saw the likes of Freddie Couples and Bernhard Langer doing well at the Masters whilst using them, so it's swings and roundabouts!

 

[thecraw]

Legal challenges will come now in my opinion, players backed by manufacturers will challenge.

Watch this space and we'll see but I'm sure someone will challenge it. Probably an infringement of human rights!

 

[TheJezster]

So does this mean that the USPGA have agreed to the ban then? so unless someone challenges, ALL USPGA and European Tour events will be standard putter only?

 

[Foxholer]

So does this mean that the USPGA have agreed to the ban then? so unless someone challenges, ALL USPGA and European Tour events will be standard putter only?

From 2016!

 

[Fader]

Anchoring doesn't bother me either way. I have a belly putter and didn't find it an advantage at all, in fact I've cut it down to standard size as I like the weight and use it as a standard putter now.

I see it that of they want to use it let them if not fine. As for the ramifications I can see Keegan Bradley & Tim Clark leading a revolt by taking legal action, can see the PGA tour rejecting it and leading to bifurcation as a result. Though where all that leaves the major championships is yet to be seen as if bifurcation comes in it'll mean at least 1 maybe 2 of the majors will allow them but the others won't under rules of golf. If that happens lots of withdrawals.

I gues it's watch this space time.

 

[Alex1975]

I have been waiting for this, if it had gone the other way I would have given it a go but they have saved me going off on that tangent.

 

[Foxholer]

While I can see the likes of Bradley kicking up a fuss, I believe they'd be ill advised to sue as I cannot imagine a scenario where they'd win. They've already complied with the groove change. The only way to 'overturn' the decision would be to challenge the R&A and USGA's right to issue The Rules - they've only been doing so since 1952.

 

[Bucktaylor64]

I use a long putter but haven't anchored for 9 months.

Its only since players started winning majors that the issue really has blown up! Feel sorry for those unable to adapt. They probably paid good money in good faith and now have a tool that will be rendered useless to them in less than three years.

What the ruling does demonstrate is that ever since their introduction, the incompetence of the R and A over the last 30 years or so in their inaction over the whole issue.

 

[MegaSteve]

Should have acted on this a lot sooner...

 

[shivas irons]

Great news this, now the guys who falsely won their majors with them will have to try a bit harder......

 

[StrangelyBrown]

They probably paid good money in good faith and now have a tool that will be rendered useless to them in less than three years.

You can buy a junior hacksaw from B&Q for £1.48

 

[fundy]

Shouldve acted sooner but glad to see it happening. Hopefully they will now turn their attentions to the golf ball and limiting its capabilities

 

[dufferman]

I'm indifferent to anchoring - a lot of people see it as cheating, but clearly it's not... until 2016!

Just a shame they decided to act on this now, and not when they were first becoming popular. Seems mad to think some people like the 14 year old kid from China who was in the Masters have used a long putter all his life, and now will have to almost start learning to putt from scratch!

I do think that is unfair.

 

[Bucktaylor64]

I'm indifferent to anchoring - a lot of people see it as cheating, but clearly it's not... until 2016!

Just a shame they decided to act on this now, and not when they were first becoming popular. Seems mad to think some people like the 14 year old kid from China who was in the Masters have used a long putter all his life, and now will have to almost start learning to putt from scratch!

I do think that is unfair.

Absolutely!

 

[Ethan]

So does this mean that the USPGA have agreed to the ban then? so unless someone challenges, ALL USPGA and European Tour events will be standard putter only?

No. The USGA does not administer US Tour event, the PGA Tour does and they can choose to impose different rules, which would amount to splitting off from the USGA/R&A rules, known by some as bifurcation.

But the US Open, Open Championship and Euro Tour events will impose this rule. So no anchoring at The Open.

No idea what Augusta is going to do, and the WGC events are supposedly jointly adminsitered by the world Tours, although in practice the PGA Tour runs them.

 

[MegaSteve]

I'm indifferent to anchoring - a lot of people see it as cheating, but clearly it's not... until 2016!

Just a shame they decided to act on this now, and not when they were first becoming popular. Seems mad to think some people like the 14 year old kid from China who was in the Masters have used a long putter all his life, and now will have to almost start learning to putt from scratch!

I do think that is unfair.

Life [in general] is unfair... Its about how you deal with it that matters...

 

[Foxholer]

Great news this, now the guys who falsely won their majors with them will have to try a bit harder......

Bull dust! The were/are legal so quite entitled to use them - as was everyone else!

Remove the word 'falsely' and I'd agree with you though.

 

[thecraw]

Great news this, now the guys who falsely won their majors with them will have to try a bit harder......

So who falsely won majors then?

Is this the same as the pro's who falsely won major with grooves that are now outlawed for creating too much spin? Should we strip them too? They were won within the rules of the game.

Plain and simple!