Hardly A Shocker: Tom Watson Reiterates His Longheld Views On Putter Anchoring

Brent Read, reporting on a Tom Watson conference call to promote his appearance in the Australian Open next month, repeated his longheld views that anchoring provides a distinct advantage and that he supports the governing bodies.

"There are definite advantages with it because you take it back and basically the pendulum and weight of the putter will take it through the impact area," Watson said.

"There is really no chance to jerk it too much if you keep it pretty still."

Comments

[digsouth]

Cool. Simple explanation of the anti-yip training aid.

[Colin MacGillivray]

So if it's an advantage everyone will use it; which they don't; so it isn't.

[Jonathan]

Tom hasn't seen me putt!

[Hawkeye]

@Colin: The long putter is an advantage for poor putters, since it stabilizes their hands. For good putters, conventional offers more touch and feel, and is therefore an advantage for them. But here's the thing - The long putter decreases the skill differential between the good and the poor putter, and that's why it's an unfair advantage. The same goes for oversized drivers, perimeter-weighted irons and juiced grooves, but that's not an argument against banning the long putter.

[kenoneputt]

"There is really no chance to jerk it too much if you keep it pretty still."

Jeez, Talk about a qualified statement. There's NO chance to jerk it?

Oh, that's qualified, with too much. Too much what?

And.... "If you keep it pretty still." See, that's the problem, yippers can't keep it still.

A long putter helps, but so does a porno-sized grip, a heavy head, etc., etc.

FWIW, I said I was going to start using a belly because I was POed at the USGA. Well, that lasted a couple of days...missed about half my 3 footers. NOT acceptable.

K

[Adam Clayman]

If is the middle word in life.

[Sun Mountain Man]

There is a reason that Watson's nickname out on tour is "Carnac, Jr." There isn't much that you can tell him that he doesn't already know.

Just in case you're wondering Nicklaus is the original Carnac and Mickelson is "Carnac III".

[johnnnycz]

I think Phil was referred to as FIGJAM or "Genius" Sun mtn Man.


Well...if anyone knows about hands jerking the club thru impact, it would be Mr Watson. The stroke he made on the 72nd hole at Turnberry was FUGLY!

[Tighthead]

I think Tom's yips were a symptom of something else, no?

[DTF]

"no chance to jerk it too much...."

So there is still some chance of jerkage. How much jerkage does it take to miss a 4 footer? Adam Scott could probably tell after the Open last year.