PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has officially stated what many feared might be the Tour players' response to the USGA's recent opinion on anchored putting strokes: they don't like it.
When the USGA issued the opinion that long putters were fine, but anchored putting strokes weren't, it immediately raised questions about how Tour players would respond. Now that they have, it sets up a future confrontation that may end up with no one happy.
An anchored putting stroke, where a player "anchors" a long putter to his belly or chest, wasn't considered traditional enough by the USGA. But Tour players, some of whom have been putting this way for years, don't see anything wrong with it. Many players, including major champion Keegan Bradley, have built solid careers exclusively using this putting technique. They are loathe to give it up.
Finchem pointed out that there is no data that shows that anchoring the putter actually improves one's putting. For some players, it may: for others, not so much -- which is why the Players Association urged Finchem to take this stand.
Will we end up with the PGA Tour ignoring one of the USGA's rules of golf? Will there be separate rules for pro golfers and amateurs? Or is there the possibility for compromise? Stay tuned.
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