Phil Supports Both Sides In Anchoring Debate!

Now that's my kind of politician...from GolfChannel.com, after Phil Mickelson's Morning Drive appearance to promote his Birdies For The Brave fundraiser at TPC Sawgrass.

"I actually agree with both sides," he said of the proposed ban on anchored putters in an interview with "Morning Drive." "I don't think there's a right or a wrong answer."

Comments

[Kenb]

Add a new entry to the "reasons Phil is annoying" file

[Robbie]

Kenb
You're an ass. Both sides have valid points. And Phil is ffffing cool.

[nguyenvuminh]

Didn't Phil say the ban would be "blantantly unfair"? Would this fall under the category of Romneyesque flip-flopping :-)

[Yes and no]

Who cares, let's get back to st Andrews - that topc is so uplifting.

Geoff, we need you to make an emergency trip back to the oz sand belt for some photo journalism. It's the only way to restore sanity around here.

[Alex H]

Many times, that answer is a cop out. Sometimes, it's the only right answer. Feed me two single malts, and I will argue either side to abandon. I don't particularly care for the dude, but he's right.

[digsouth]

I can see both sides as well, but I have an opinion as to which one is the correct one- ban the anchoring as is being done. If some of you can get so self rightious about the ROG and a leaf being touched as a 2 stroke penalty- then man up and quit whimpering for some yipped out ''golfer'' who wants to use a training aid as a club. It touching a leaf OFFERS AN ADVANTAGE- then WTF does locking a club down do for one who has the dt's and can't putt. There's yer penalty.

[Ghillie]

So Phil is looking to go into politics after golf...he's a shoo-in.

[fyg]

Phil just doesn't want to offend his buddy Keegan.

[Amen Coroner]

What a loser. So un-Aamerican to not pick a friggin side. He's too much of a blank cat to side with us banners in public. Ever the vanilla corporate front man. Down a notch he goes!

[Stanley Thompson]

Poor Phil.
After the wedge situation he is afraid to take a side.
Man up Phil....for a change.

[Ghost of Perry Maxwell]

There is a post golf career opportunity in politics for PM !!!!!

[Brad]

Man up Phil? Really Stanley?
He's probably twice the man you'll ever be

[Ghost of Perry Maxwell]

PM does have a career in politics upcoming

[AK47]

Forever The Candidate. Everything that comes out of Phil's mouth is calculated. I actually think Tiger's more forthcoming, which is a sad indictment.

[BrianS]

Maybe Phil is just being honest ? He probably theoretically agrees with the notion that it is not a gold stroke, but does not think it is fair to ban it at this time. So what should he say then ?

[digsouth]

Brad-- you need to man up on your reading skills---Stanley is very OBVIOUSLY being sarcastic, by his reference to PM's challenge with the wedge rule.

[Chuck]

I have no reason to pick on Phil Mickelson; I don't see the point, or the profit, in that.

But there is one point worth really and seriously considering. The basic, default compromise (?) position seems to be, "Yes, I agree that anchored putting is probably contrary to the spirit of the rules on swinging golf clubs. But the USGA waited too long to act, and now it might be too late, and could be unfair to elite players, some with limited professional/competitive careers, to switch."

I'm sorry, but it is too damn bad that the USGA -- unwisely -- waited to act for so long. And it is too damn bad, that after a decade of serious complaints about the Pro V1 era of golf equipment, the USGA is still waiting to do anything about multilayer solid core urethane golf balls. Sorry, but if "the USGA waited too long," is the excuse, let's just start off the conversation with the USGA saying, "Yeah we are sorry we waited so long. It was dumb, and we've learned a lesson and we won't wait so long again..."

SO WHAT ABOUT THIS; A REVERSE BIFURCATION OF THE RULES OF GOLF: Ban long putters now, in junior golf. In four years, ban them in all NCAA and amateur golf. And in ten years, ban them on the professional tours. And just because I am that kind of guy, let the Champions Tour players vote on when, if ever, they will be banned.

[Chuck]

Edit: My apologies to all. My language was careless, in suggesting a ban of "long putters." We are of course talking about banning the act of anchoring putters, not a technical length limitation on putters. My bad. I express no opnion on the USGA's chosen approach to the new regulation, in the manner of describing a stroke, as opposed to a physical limitation on putter-length.

[KLG]

Anchoring is ugly and equivalent to scooping, which is against the rules. That the USGA is only now getting around to doing something, after the horse left the barn so long ago that he is a grandfather, is absurd. Justice delayed is justice denied...Besides, there are other things more important to worry about.

[weg]

When you're a right-handed person whose nickname is "Lefty," supporting both sides comes naturally.