Webb Simpson, Tim Clark react strongly to anchoring ban
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Webb Simpson, Tim Clark react strongly to anchoring ban

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Webb Simpson and Tim Clark, two of the most prominent users of the anchored putting stroke, responded to the official adoption of an anchoring ban by the game's governing bodies on Tuesday.

Clark, who was in Ft. Worth, Texas, for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, suggested there might be some litigation in his future.

“We do have legal counsel,” he said, according to Golfweek. “We’re going to explore our options. We’re not going to just roll over and accept this.”

The governing bodies acknowledged that some players or manufacturers might consider suing them over the anchoring ban, which will go into effect in Jan. 1, 2016 as Rule 14-1b in the next edition of the Rules of Golf. USGA president Glen Nager, who has argued a baker's dozen times in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, is confident of the legal standing of the ban.

Speaking of the USGA, the reigning U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson took to Twitter to respond to the ban, suggesting players should have more involvement in developing rules changes.

"My opinion of the belly putter ruling? I think/strongly feel that we (players) should have way more input into the rules than we have now," he tweeted.

He added in a call for bifurcation -- creating two sets of rules, one for amateurs and one for professionals.

"Playing 30 competitive tournaments a year is much different than playing twice a month. So, if our rules are slightly different than the rest, no problem at all. EVERY other sport has rules that differ according to level."

However, Simpson said he is prepared to adopt the traditional putting stroke again if the PGA Tour decides to accept the new rule.

"What am I going to do? Well I always use short putter at home to make sure my set up is same. So I will keep practicing and see What the Tour says. I was going to maybe switch at some point anyways, whatever will make me better!"

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