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Anchored Putting Strokes to Be Banned in 2016 Anchored Putting Strokes to Be Banned in 2016
(about 4 hours later)
FAR HILLS, N.J. — Golf’s rules-making bodies, the United States Golf Association and the R & A, on Tuesday prohibited golfers from anchoring a putter against their bodies while making a stroke, a rule change the organizations first proposed in November. The worldwide ban against anchored putting strokes, applicable to professionals and amateurs alike, will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2016.FAR HILLS, N.J. — Golf’s rules-making bodies, the United States Golf Association and the R & A, on Tuesday prohibited golfers from anchoring a putter against their bodies while making a stroke, a rule change the organizations first proposed in November. The worldwide ban against anchored putting strokes, applicable to professionals and amateurs alike, will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2016.
Glen D. Nager, the president of the golf association, said the approval of Rule 14-1b was necessary “to preserve one of the important traditions and challenges of the game — that the player freely swing the entire club.”Glen D. Nager, the president of the golf association, said the approval of Rule 14-1b was necessary “to preserve one of the important traditions and challenges of the game — that the player freely swing the entire club.”
He added: “The new rule upholds the essential nature of the traditional method of stroke and eliminates the possible advantage that anchoring provides, ensuring that players of all skill levels face the same challenge inherent in the game of golf.”He added: “The new rule upholds the essential nature of the traditional method of stroke and eliminates the possible advantage that anchoring provides, ensuring that players of all skill levels face the same challenge inherent in the game of golf.”
The decision comes after months, if not years, of spirited debate over the use of broomstick-length putters secured against the chest and longer than customary putters wedged against the stomach. The PGA Tour and the P.G.A. of America, which runs the Ryder Cup and the P.G.A. Championship, opposed the ban. But the PGA European Tour, the L.P.G.A. Tour and multiple other domestic and international golf organizations said they were in favor of the rules change. Prominent golfers like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have also supported the ban. The decision comes after months, if not years, of spirited debate over the use of broomstick-length putters secured against the chest and longer than customary putters wedged against the stomach. And it comes after four of the last six major men’s championships were won by players using long or belly putters: Adam Scott in this year’s Masters, Ernie Els in the 2012 British Open, Webb Simpson at the 2012 United States Open and Keegan Bradley at the 2011 P.G.A. Championship.
In a statement Tuesday morning, Ted Bishop, the president of the P.G.A. of America, which represents about 27,000 men and women teaching pros, said: “We are disappointed with this outcome. As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14‐1b is in the best interest of recreational golfers and we are concerned about the negative impact it may have on both the enjoyment and growth of the game. Although we do not agree with the decision, we applaud the U.S.G.A. for its willingness to listen to our concerns and engage in meaningful discussions. We should also note that our difference of opinion regarding 14‐1b should not in any way detract from the healthy relationship we have had with the U.S.G.A. for nearly a century.” The PGA Tour and the P.G.A. of America, which runs the Ryder Cup and the P.G.A. Championship, opposed the ban when it was proposed, and their responses Tuesday did not necessarily close the book on the anchoring issue.
As to what the PGA of America will do about rules for the P.G.A. Championship or the Ryder Cup, Bishop said: “At this point in time, the PGA will digest the U.S.G.A. and R & A’s decision to proceed with Rule 14‐1b and discuss this matter with our board of directors, PGA sections and, of course, our 27,000 PGA professionals throughout the country. Our board will convene in late June during our P.G.A. Professional National Championship and, at that time, we will decide how best to proceed. In addition, we will continue to confer with the PGA Tour as they similarly digest this information.” In a statement, the PGA Tour said: “We will now begin our process to ascertain whether the various provisions of Rule 14-1b will be implemented in our competitions and, if so, examine the process for implementation.”
In its own statement, the PGA Tour said: “We will now begin our process to ascertain whether the various provisions of Rule 14-1b will be implemented in our competitions and, if so, examine the process for implementation. Ted Bishop, the president of the P.G.A. of America, which represents about 27,000 men and women teaching pros, said in a statement: “We are disappointed with this outcome. As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14‐1b is in the best interest of recreational golfers and we are concerned about the negative impact it may have on both the enjoyment and growth of the game. Although we do not agree with the decision, we applaud the U.S.G.A. for its willingness to listen to our concerns and engage in meaningful discussions.”
“In this regard, over the next month we will engage in discussions with our Player Advisory Council and Policy Board members. The PGA Tour will discuss the ban with its player council and its policy board over the next month and will announce its position on applying the rule at a later time. Bishop said his organization’s board of directors would meet in late June to decide how best to proceed.
“We will announce our position regarding the application of Rule 14-1b to our competitions upon conclusion of our process and we will have no further comment on the matter until that time.” But the PGA European Tour, the L.P.G.A. Tour and multiple other domestic and international golf organizations said they were in favor of the rules change. Prominent golfers like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have also supported the ban.
While protest to the rules change was conspicuous in the United States, the prohibition on an anchored putting stroke was widely supported in most other golf-playing countries. The U.S.G.A. oversees golf rules in the United States and Mexico. The R & A governs the game’s rules everywhere else, including Canada. Before Tuesday’s decision the U.S.G.A. and the R & A pledged to implement the anchored putting stroke rule change in concert. The U.S.G.A. oversees golf rules in the United States and Mexico. The R&A governs the game’s rules everywhere else, including Canada.
The two governing bodies issued a 39-page explanation of the decision to adopt the new rule.The two governing bodies issued a 39-page explanation of the decision to adopt the new rule.
In a statement, Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R & A, said: “We recognize this has been a divisive issue but after thorough consideration we remain convinced that this is the right decision for golf.” In a statement, Peter Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, said: “We recognize this has been a divisive issue but after thorough consideration we remain convinced that this is the right decision for golf.”
Nager also addressed the suggestion that rules officials could have prohibited the anchoring putting stroke only at the highest levels of the game.Nager also addressed the suggestion that rules officials could have prohibited the anchoring putting stroke only at the highest levels of the game.
“To adopt a rule or condition of competition that enabled nonelite amateurs, perhaps 30-40 times a round, to gain the potential advantages of anchoring, while prohibiting professionals and elite amateurs from doing so,” Nager said, “would effectively create two different games and undermine the integrity, traditions and global appeal of the game.” “To adopt a rule or condition of competition that enabled nonelite amateurs, perhaps 30-40 times a round, to gain the potential advantages of anchoring, while prohibiting professionals and elite amateurs from doing so would effectively create two different games and undermine the integrity, traditions and global appeal of the game,” Nager said.
The decision comes after three of the last four major championships were won by players using long or belly putters: Adam Scott in this year’s Masters, Ernie Els in the 2012 British Open and Webb Simpson at the United States Open nearly a year ago. The next decision rests with the PGA Tour, where roughly 15 percent of the players use an anchored putting stroke, and with the P.G.A. of America, two groups that have always chosen to abide by U.S.G.A. rules. Will they, beginning in 2016, choose to ignore the anchoring piece of the rule book? Such a decision would throw open the door to more decampment from the safe haven of the U.S.G.A. rules. Would, for example, the PGA Tour determine its own guidelines on what constitutes a conforming club and ball?
The next decision rests with the PGA Tour, where roughly 15 percent of the players use an anchored putting stroke, and with the PGA of America, two groups that have always chosen to abide by U.S.G.A. rules. Will they, beginning in 2016, choose to ignore the anchoring piece of the rule book? Such a decision would throw open the door to more decampment from the safe haven of the U.S.G.A. rules. Would, for example, the PGA Tour determine its own guidelines on what constitutes a conforming club and ball?
Also, since the association administers the United States Open and the R & A runs the British Open, if the P.G.A. of America chose to disregard Tuesday’s decision, there would be separate rules for the various major championships and the Ryder Cup. Officials for the Masters tournament have so far said only that they hoped there would be one set of golf rules.
On Tuesday at a news conference at U.S.G.A. headquarters here, the association’s executive director, Mike Davis, said that while he had consulted with Tim Finchem, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, it would be conjecture to estimate how the Tour would react. Davis added that he thought it was important for all the professional tours to follow the U.S.G.A. and R& A-approved rules.On Tuesday at a news conference at U.S.G.A. headquarters here, the association’s executive director, Mike Davis, said that while he had consulted with Tim Finchem, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, it would be conjecture to estimate how the Tour would react. Davis added that he thought it was important for all the professional tours to follow the U.S.G.A. and R& A-approved rules.
“A schism about the rules to be used would not be good for the game,” Davis said.“A schism about the rules to be used would not be good for the game,” Davis said.
The P.G.A. of America fears the detrimental effects the rule may have on multiple grow-the-game efforts at the recreational golf level. Use of the anchored stroke is popular with a sector of average golfers, traditionally older golfers and those with back problems that make bending over a traditional-length putter more onerous. The first long putters were introduced in the 1920s, but they did not gain any kind of widespread use until the 1980s.The P.G.A. of America fears the detrimental effects the rule may have on multiple grow-the-game efforts at the recreational golf level. Use of the anchored stroke is popular with a sector of average golfers, traditionally older golfers and those with back problems that make bending over a traditional-length putter more onerous. The first long putters were introduced in the 1920s, but they did not gain any kind of widespread use until the 1980s.
Lately, in a trend that may have gotten the attention of golf’s ruling bodies more than any other development, the long putter has become more prevalent in the golf bags of American junior golfers as well. Lately, in a trend that may have gotten the attention of golf’s ruling bodies more than any other development, the long putter has become more prevalent in the golf bags of American junior golfers. Considered the vanguard of the sport in China, 14-year-old Guan Tianlang, who recently played the Masters and two PGA Tour events, also uses a belly putter.
But at a time when the number of golfers nationwide is receding, the PGA of America did not believe it was wise to take away something that recreational players have used for decades to make the game more fun. At a time when the number of golfers nationwide is receding, the P.G.A. of America did not believe it was wise to take away something that recreational players have used for decades to make the game more fun.
The U.S.G.A. has countered that it is not outlawing the equipment, just the stroke. Golfers would still be within the rules while using a long putter if they propped the top end of it in their hand or used some other method — just so long as the putter swung freely and away from the player’s body.The U.S.G.A. has countered that it is not outlawing the equipment, just the stroke. Golfers would still be within the rules while using a long putter if they propped the top end of it in their hand or used some other method — just so long as the putter swung freely and away from the player’s body.
In the end, while Tuesday’s decision is big news at the highest levels of golf, average golfers are always allowed to play by whatever rules they choose, as they have been doing for hundreds of years. Mulligan tee shots, do-over shots, moving a ball out of a divot — each is a rules violation and each is routinely accepted among friends in sociable matches at golf courses throughout the country every weekend. The same could apply to long putters in 2016. Often, the rules for a day of golf are decided independently, group by group, on the first tee. In the end, while Tuesday’s decision is big news at the highest levels of golf, average golfers are always allowed to play by whatever rules they choose, as they have been doing for hundreds of years. Mulligan tee shots, do-over shots, moving a ball out of a divot — each is a rules violation and each is routinely accepted among friends in sociable matches at golf courses throughout the country every weekend. The same could apply to anchored putters in 2016.
The new rule from the two governing bodies only speaks to golf, or golf competitions, played within the rules as defined and administered by golf’s official rule book. And that rule book, as of 2016, will include this section under Rule 14-1b: The new rule from the two governing bodie speaks only to golf, or golf competitions, played within the rules as defined and administered by golf’s official rule book. In 2016, that rule book will include this section under Rule 14-1b:
“In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either ‘directly’ or by use of an ‘anchor point.’“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 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.”“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.”