Golf Belly Putter Ban to Take Effect in 2016

Photo by @tcvice

Here is an interesting stat: four of the last 6 major winners on TOUR play with either a belly or broom handle putter (2011 PGA Championship: Keegan Bradley, 2012 Open Championship: Ernie Els, 2012 US Open: Webb Simpson, and 2013 Masters Champion: Adam Scott). In fact, to look even deeper into the statistics, Els beat out Scott in the 2012 Open Championship.

Nearly six months after proposing a change to the Rules of Golf, the Golf gods spoke on Tuesday and announced that anchoring the club in making a stroke will be banned effective Jan. 1, 2016.

The ruling certainly has not quieted the ongoing debate, leaving many asking, is this fair?

Here is how the rule reads:

New Rule 14-1b states that players who use a belly putter or long putter will no longer be able to hold the butt end of the club against their bodies to anchor the shaft while making a stroke, however, the clubs will still be allowed, so long as they are not used in this newly restricted manner. So, players like Keegan Bradley can still use their belly putter, so long as it does not touch their body.

The recent Aussie Masters winner weighed in:

“Now we’re making rules for the betterment of the game based on zero evidence? Incredible,” Scott said. “What did they think when they allowed it? You’re dealing with professional athletes who are competitive, who want to find better ways. … What do they think when they’ve got super talented golfers putting in thousands of hours of practice with a long putter, short putter, sand wedge, whatever? It was just a matter of time. They’re going to get good.”

Anyone following this story over the past few months knows how Tiger Woods feels about the anchor putter, “I hope they go with the ban,” Woods said Monday. “That’s something that I’ve said, that anchoring should not be a part of the game. It should be mandatory to have to swing all 14 clubs.” The four time winner on TOUR this year who seems to be an early favorite for the FedExCup, got the news he was hoping for today.

So for all you “belly putters” out there, like it or not, now you have two and half years to re-learn the traditional putter…

(Cover Photo Credit)