GOLF-PGA Prohibit anchoring the putter

THOUSAND OAKS - The governing bodies of golf announced their decision to make a significant change in the rules of putting, to prohibit anchoring the stick in the body during the stroke, but will accept comments on the subject, before enacting the new law early next year.

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For months, the Golf Association of the United States (USGA) and the R & A - which manages the game outside the U.S. and Mexico - had considered a change in the rules prohibiting anchoring the stick, a practice that has become more common with long putters and belly putters.

If the rule is passed, would take effect on 1 January 2016 when the next update occurs the rules of golf.

The executive director of the USGA, Mike Davis, and the executive director of R & A, Peter Dawson, had promised to give an address on the rule for this week.

And the announcement finally came.

"Over 600 years of golf history, the essence of the game has been holding the stick with your hands and move freely to give the ball," said Davis. "The challenge for the player is controlling the movement of the club to hit the ball, and anchor the stick changes the nature of the challenge. Our conclusion is that the rules of golf should be adjusted to preserve the traditional character of the golf swing, which involves removing the growing practice of anchoring the stick to the body. "

Although long putters have been around for decades, the issue has become more important in recent times, especially since three of the last five champions used the belly putter Majors.

The decision taken not prohibit putters, but the anchor. So a player could use a long putter long as they do not rest your hand on his chest during the coup, and the same goes for the belly putter, provided they do not lean against the body.

Gained popularity long putters on the Champions Tour during the 80s, when players on the tour of over 50 realized they could produce a more stable if anchored hit the end of the putter against your body.Overall it looked like a stick for players with back problems or with putting problems.

Rocco Mediate became the first player to win a PGA Tour event with a long putter in 1991. Paul Azinger was the first to win with a belly putter in 2000.

But when Keegan Bradley became the first to win a major with a belly putter at the PGA Championship 2011, the debate intensified. Webb Simpson, who used the belly putter, won the U.S. Open 2012, followed by Ernie Els in the Open Championship.

Els has always been outspoken in his dislike of putters, and already in 2004 had said that these clubs should be banned. "Better take a pill," he said then, referring to the inability of a player to calm the nerves.

Even last year, after reluctantly use a belly putter for his problems on the greens, Els said he thought these sticks should be banned, but joked that "to the extent they are allowed, I will continue cheating ".

But recently, Els has changed his mind. Now understand those who use these putters. Is it fair to change after all this time? Els said that using a belly putter is not automatic, and it takes a lot of practice to find around. And those who are against the ban point out that none of the best putters use it.

But the Hall of Fame as Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer have spoken out against the anchor, saying that it is an authentic golf swing.Brandt Snedeker, who won the FedEx Cup in 2012 and led the PGA Tour in a stat called putting strokes earned, is also in favor of the ban.

"I think they should be banned,'' Snedeker said last week." I have no problem with long putters if you make sure they are not anchored, I have only problem with the anchor. There is a reason why men with belly putters use them: work. Otherwise, it would use them.''

Azinger offers another point of view, including the idea that the sport has major problems besides the long putters.

"For 11 years, everyone said that no one could win a major with a belly putter, Keegan does, Phil (Mickelson) tries, and now you want to ban?'' Azinger said." I will say this: the Great Big Bertha (one of the first metal drivers manufactured by Callaway) made the woods seem wooden drivers 4. Now, the Great Big Bertha seems a 4 wood.

"Today, everyone goes further with the drivers, but not all better stick with the belly putter. If it were, everyone would use it, as the drivers."

Some players have suggested that exhausted all avenues available to them so that they continue to allow anchoring the putter.

The PGA Tour and the European Tour have always followed the rules established by the USGA and R & A, respectively.

Source: http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=1668946&s=gol&type=column