FAR HILLS, N.J. — Golf’s rules-making bodies, the United States Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient, on Tuesday prohibited golfers from anchoring a putter against their bodies while making a stroke, a rule change the organizations first proposed in November. The worldwide ban against anchored putting strokes, applicable to professionals and amateurs alike, will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2016.
Glen D. Nager, the president of the golf association, said the approval of Rule 14-1b was necessary “to preserve one of the important traditions and challenges of the game — that the player freely swing the entire club.”
He added: “The new rule upholds the essential nature of the traditional method of stroke and eliminates the possible advantage that anchoring provides, ensuring that players of all skill levels face the same challenge inherent in the game of golf.”
The decision comes after months, if not years, of spirited debate over the use of broomstick-length putters secured against the chest and longer than customary putters wedged against the stomach. The PGA Tour and the PGA of America, which runs the Ryder Cup and the P.G.A. Championship, opposed the ban. But the PGA European Tour, the L.P.G.A. Tour and multiple other domestic and international golf organizations said they were in favor of the rules change. Prominent golfers like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have also supported the ban.
In a statement Tuesday morning, Ted Bishop, the president of the PGA of America, which represents about 27,000 men and women teaching pros, said: “We are disappointed with this outcome. As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14
Glen D. Nager, the president of the golf association, said the approval of Rule 14-1b was necessary “to preserve one of the important traditions and challenges of the game — that the player freely swing the entire club.”
He added: “The new rule upholds the essential nature of the traditional method of stroke and eliminates the possible advantage that anchoring provides, ensuring that players of all skill levels face the same challenge inherent in the game of golf.”
The decision comes after months, if not years, of spirited debate over the use of broomstick-length putters secured against the chest and longer than customary putters wedged against the stomach. The PGA Tour and the PGA of America, which runs the Ryder Cup and the P.G.A. Championship, opposed the ban. But the PGA European Tour, the L.P.G.A. Tour and multiple other domestic and international golf organizations said they were in favor of the rules change. Prominent golfers like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer have also supported the ban.
In a statement Tuesday morning, Ted Bishop, the president of the PGA of America, which represents about 27,000 men and women teaching pros, said: “We are disappointed with this outcome. As we have said publicly and repeatedly during the comment period, we do not believe 14