As the R&A and U.S. Golf Association continue to indicate the days are numbered for the anchored putting stroke, several of the game's big names are calling for an expedited ban.
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said Monday the game's governing bodies anticipate making an announcement on any potential action to come by the end of 2012. Any change in equipment rules would not take effect until 2016, when the next edition of the Rules of Golf is published.
Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington thinks a ban of the belly and long putters, or the anchored stroke, will thin out the field in major championships.
“I just hope they don’t wait until I’m 50 years of age to change the rule on the long putter because if the standard of putting goes up, it puts more pressure on the guys that aren’t using one just to compete," Harrington said Sunday, according to Irish Golf Desk. “Put it this way. If someone invented the belly putter or the long putter tomorrow. If somebody came up with it tomorrow, there’s no way they’d let it through.”
Gary Player echoed Harrington's sentiments on Saturday.
“What you have done by allowing the pros to use the long putter or the belly putter is that you have eradicated nerves out of there game, and nerves are an integral part of the game," he said.
Englishman Ian Poulter made it a trio of players with the same talking point - the anchored stroke makes the game easier.
"Should they be used?" Poulter asked, according to Sky Sports. "I dont think they should be, you shouldn't be able to anchor them with the butt end of the club, it certainly makes it easier."
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