By Tom Pilcher
LYTHAM ST ANNES, England, July 23 (Reuters) – Some players
do not like the advantage fellow competitors gain by anchoring a
longer putter into their chest or stomach and officials will
discuss the issue in months rather than years, Royal Ancient
chief executive Peter Dawson said on Monday.
The British Open ended on Sunday and winner Ernie Els and
runner-up Adam Scott both wielded belly putters.
“The situation is that the RA and the USGA do have this
subject firmly back on the radar,” Dawson told a news conference
after Els’s one-shot victory over Australian Scott.
“I think you’re going to see us saying something about it
one way or the other in a few months rather than years,” added
Dawson.
Els, a four-times major winner and widely respected promoter
of the game, said last year he felt using a longer putter was
cheating but that if they were allowed then why not take
advantage.
Of the last four major tournaments, three have been won by
players using such equipment.
American Keegan Bradley carried one for his U.S. PGA
Championship victory in August as did compatriot Webb Simpson at
last month’s U.S. Open.
Dawson said he was fully aware of complaints that the long
putters were unfair.
Continued…
