The PGA of Australia won’t rush to ban anchored clubs despite the Royal & Ancient and US Golf Association opting to outlaw Adam Scott-style broomstick putters.
Almost six months since proposing the rule change, golf’s governing bodies confirmed a new rule 14-1b will be adopted – effective on January 1, 2016.
It will prohibit players from anchoring a club directly, or by use of an anchor point, against any part of the body, effectively banning belly and chest putting, which has helped four of the past six major champions.
The ban is a blow to Scott, who last year became the first Australian to win the Masters at Augusta.
But chief executive Brian Thorburn says the PGA of Australia won’t rush into any rule change.
“With regard to the overnight announcement by the R&A and the USGA … we wish to clarify that the PGA of Australia will now take this formal announcement on board and consider whether it will be appropriate to apply the new rule to PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments,” Thorburn said in a statement.
“PGA of Australia members compete all over the world from Asia to Europe and America, therefore we shall be liaising closely with our fellow Tours through the International Federation of PGA Tours and with the PGAs around the world, particularly through the PGA World Alliance.
“We would like to avoid a situation where our members play under different rules in different countries, therefore hope sanity prevails and we continue to play under a common rule.
“We expect that our decision will be made reasonably soon and we will make a formal announcement at that time.”
Scott has been a vocal opponent of the ban and will have to modify his putting stroke.
But the world No.3 recently said he’d likely just remove his anchor point ever so slightly off his body but continue to use the long putter.
“I don’t think there will be anything much for me to change. If I have to separate the putter a millimetre from my chest, then I’ll do that,” he said.
“I don’t see myself putting any different, looks wise. My hand will be slightly off my chest.”
Fellow Australian major winners Ian Baker-Finch and Geoff Ogilvy are both backing Scott to adjust and remain a world force, providing he stays positive.
“I don’t think he’ll have any issues changing back or finding a way to putt,” said Ogilvy.
“He won a lot of tournaments with a traditional putter. He might not go back but he’ll find a way that might be just as good as he is now.”
Baker-Finch hopes Scott will continue to do what he has been doing until the rule takes affect and focuses on doing what he does best – winning tournaments.
“I fully believe it’s not necessarily the putting that’s got him to where he is in golf,” he said.
“It’s his overall ability. He’s a great ball-striker and he’s one of the best drivers in the game.
“The putting was just another piece in the puzzle to help him with confidence to take it to the next level but I know he’ll figure it out.”