"Plenty of rancor over anchored putting among PGA Tour Champions crew"
We know the geezers tour regulars are not thrilled that the top two players seem to almost-anchor their putters, and as their season opener nears, Golfweek's Eamon Lynch examines just how much joy this is bothering the senior set.
Last year's public issues with Bernhard Langer and Scott McCarron came from Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee suggesting they were bending the rules.
“Brandel and I have been friends for a long time,” he says. “I’ve worked in the TV business. I know you say things sometimes you aren’t really sure about. And he usually does his homework. He’s very diligent. This time he missed the boat.”
If Chamblee did “miss the boat” with his comments, he has plenty of company on the dock. Rancor over the anchoring rule, and the success McCarron and Langer have enjoyed with their method, has shaken the senior set.
“It’s a huge issue,” says Tom Pernice Jr., a five-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions. “A lot of players aren’t going to say anything about it to the press. It’s not fair. If you’re playing for a living, there’s a skill level in putting and that is being able to control the fulcrum point.”
Yikes, glad we got that all sorted out last year!
Monday, January 8, 2018 at 09:21 PM
Reader Comments (23)
If 1% use the long putter, and only 15% of them truly would throw a tantrum and quit if they couldn’t use one, how many are we talking about here? Yet the tyranny of the minority is what led to the clumsy, poorly conceived rule change.
It’s hurt the USGA and R&A, it’s tainted the achievements of Langer and it’s hurt the game.
To the people who whined, threatened to quit and essentially extorted the weak-willed ruling bodies into their horrible administrative move, thanks a lot. Your selfishness has made the game worse.
McCarron or Langer’s cards last year
If they are anchoring, and players haven’t the fortitude to do anything about it
Then there can’t be that much rancor
On a tour that constantly changes rules to keep players who aren’t competitive
In the fields, I find it hard to believe they would not try to x any player out if it could add one more dollar in yet another retirement fun
And there have been a lot of things traditional golfers didn’t like the “look” of. We moved a little bit past some of those
The real underlying issues if that many can't play golf - to do so they need help in the form of aids - but using aids defeats the very idea of playing golf because the game is based on a single principle, which is one of challenging the golfer both in mind and body - something no longer understood in the commercial field that is golf (the Pro game and Course Design). To use aids, is an admission that your game is Sh@t and you can't face the challenge - in the end its that simple.
So these players should take their long putters and put it where the Sun does not shine, that at least may give real golfers something to smile about.
Most importantly, it shouldn't be a player who would have to decide he wants to risk that in order to fix the issue.
Of course, this whole thing is a matter of flawed aesthetics. A lot of people in the Game of Golf and the Business of Golf don't do "new" very well. And besides, the USGA dropped the ball in the beginning on this one, regarding whether the move with an anchored putter is a proper "swing," and that should have been that.
Langer is playing by the rules. Whether we agree with the USGA interpretation is another matter. Is it a coincidence the grumbling by fellow competitors at Salem Country Club after 36-holes (67-65), that led to Langer being "assured" by the USGA he was in compliance, turned into 72-74 on the weekend? A 14-blow difference tends to raise an eyebrow when it happens to the #1 player, one known for not wilting when in the hunt.
http://thegolfwedge.com/best-golf-chipper/
McCarron is such a hypocrite. And a cheater.
@Big Ed interesting observation about McCarron and his prior whinging on the SG Eye 2 wedges as it relates to Mickelson. That said, has nothing to do with his current putting technique which is 100% within the rules. Your issue is with the USGA, not Scott or Bernhard or Scott or others who will be switching back soon.
Happy New Year and wonderful 2018 to all!!!
Don't overlook the lack of daylight between Bernhard's forearm and his torso. If the forearm rests on the body then that is Anchoring. Scott mcarron has his forearm well out from his torso - no anchoring there.