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LPGA Says It Will Adopt Anchoring Ban

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:29:33 +0000

As of Jan. 1, 2016 - when Rule 14-1b officially goes into effect - anchored putting strokes will be banned on the LPGA Tour. The LPGA issued a statement in ...

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PGA Tour, PGA of America Statements on Anchoring Ban

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:59:16 +0000

Two organizations that were vocal in their opposition to the proposed anchoring ban (Rule 14-1b) have issued statements today following the USGA/R&A decision to move forward with the ban.

First, ...

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It's Official: Anchoring Ban Coming to Rules of Golf

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:50:21 +0000

The USGA and R&A announced Tuesday morning the adoption of Rule 14-1b - the ban on anchored strokes - effective Jan 1, 2016. So as of that date, anchoring a belly putter or long putter will be against the Rules of Golf.

The decision to affirm the proposed rule - after its original unveiling last year, and following a 90-day comment period - comes despite loud opposition from both the PGA Tour and the PGA of America, and from some rank-and-file golfers. Almost all of that opposition was inside the United States, however; in territories governed by the R&A (essentially the rest of the world), opposition to the proposed anchoring ban was virtually absent.

It will be very interesting to watch the reactions of the PGA Tour and PGA of America now, and particularly to hear the reactions of professional golfers who anchor longer putters. Some of those, such as Adam Scott, have already said they'll continue using their long putters but with a small adjustment - moving the butt end of the putter off their bodies (in other words, removing the anchor point). Others, like Ernie Els, say they'll go back to a conventional putter. But others, such as Keegan Bradley, Carl Petterss0n and Tim Clark, have been far more vocal in opposition to the ban, even suggesting the possibility of legal action. (Nearly three months ago I wrote a commentary titled "Why the PGA Tour will ultimately go along with anchoring ban.")

As for recreational golfers: Just keep in mind that the Rule 14-1b does not ban belly putters and long putters, only anchoring those putters. If you need a broomstick putter because of back problems, you can go right on using one - just move your top hand off your chest (eliminate the anchor point). If you anchor a belly putter to fight the yips, try bracing a belly putter against your forearm instead (the Matt Kuchar stroke, which remains legal under 14-1b).

In other words: Don't panic. There are options, and there'll be more coming as equipment manufacturers and golf instructors react to the rule and explore alternative means and methods. Plus, you have 2 1/2 years to continue anchoring, while experimenting with different styles of putters or putting.

When Rule 14-1b goes into effect in the 2016 Rules, it will read thusly:

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.

Both the USGA and R&A have sections on their websites detailing the decision to implement Rule 14-1b, and great photos and videos explaining what types of putting strokes are (and are not) affected by the new rule. See the USGA anchoring section or the R&A anchoring section.

See also:
PGA Tour, PGA of America statements
LPGA will adopt anchoring ban

This Week: BMW PGA, Colonial

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:15:57 +0000

One of Europe's biggest tournaments takes place this week at Wentworth Club near London, the BMW PGA Championship. And befitting that "European major" status, most of the top Euro ...

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Ken Venturi Dies at Age 82

Fri, 17 May 2013 18:59:38 +0000

Little more than a week after he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Ken Venturi is dead. He died Friday afternoon at the age of 82.

Venturi - ...

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Anchoring Decision Coming May 21, Televised Live

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:40:37 +0000

The USGA and R&A will conduct a news conference on Tuesday, May 21, to announce the final decision on the proposed anchoring ban. And we can all watch it live, ...

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That Year Byron Nelson Almost Won Everything

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:57:47 +0000

Keegan Bradley got the 2013 HP Byron Nelson Championship off to a hot start with a 60 in the first round. Scores of 60 are still pretty rare on the ...

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Swing 'Up the Hill' to Fight a Slice

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:51:54 +0000

The Up the Hill Drill helps golfers who are fighting a slice learn the feel of an inside-to-outside swing path, one that will help them stop cutting across the face ...

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Sergio, Tiger and Money Lists

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:02:44 +0000

Two quick money list observations in the aftermath of The Players Championship:

Sergio Garcia, despite that terrible meltdown late, won enough money to enter the Top 10 on the PGA Tour's career money list. Garcia is No. 10:

1. Tiger Woods, $106,800,300
2. Phil Mickelson, $69,864,978
3. Vijay Singh, $67,479,870
4. Jim Furyk, $53,607,650
5. Ernie Els, $45,284,541
6. Davis Love III, $42,232,090
7. David Toms, $39,111,635
8. Steve Stricker, $37,056,701
9. Justin Leonard, $32,291,095
10. Sergio Garcia, $31,939,217

Career money lists are, really, pretty meaningless. But they do tell you which golfers have dominated the current era.

Garcia is one of those golfers (one of those athletes) whose very early success set up expectations that have haunted his later career - which has actually been pretty good. You have to wonder whether Garcia's career - which is considered something of a disappointment by many - would be viewed very differently by fans, by media, by Sergio himself, if everything about it was exactly the same except that he had not challenged Tiger Woods as a 19-year-old at the 1999 PGA Championship.
Speaking of Tiger, after The Players his 2013 PGA Tour earnings total $5,849,600 in just seven tournaments. Tiger's earnings in seven tournament this year would rank No. 30 on the LPGA Tour's career money list.

TPC Sawgrass: The Course, the 17th Hole, the Photos

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:52:58 +0000

The 2013 Players Championship is under way, and that puts the spotlight once again on TPC Sawgrass. We've put the spotlight on this famous course a few times, too, in ...

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