Monty's Gut Tells Him To Start Anchoring A Putter Even Though He Wants The Act Banned

I'll take the high road and resist the littany of potential belly jokes and just leave it to Bernie McGuire, reporting from Singapore, where Colin Montgomerie is hoping to feed off the presence of the world No. 1 the way he thinks people "fed off me when I was No.2 in the world."

"I'm using the belly putter but I don't agree with it, and I don't agree with you being allowed to hinge it against your body," said Montgomerie, who will be among five Scots in the field this week. "So while it's legal I will use it but as soon as it's not, I will agree with the powers to be in that it has to go. It's got to go.

"I can understand Keegan and Carl's reasoning in considering to take the matter further if the ban should come in, but no golf club should be anchored or hinged."

So he's going to hinge until they say he can't! That's our Monty...

Comments

[metro18]

Geoff. So the guys that used the old square grooves right up to the end should be held to the same standards?
Monty get s a bum rap too many times. At least he's honest and speaks his mind.

[Jeff Rogers]

This is actually somebody who makes sense. If you believe anchoring really gives someone an advantage, wouldn't you do it? He thinks it gives an advantage so he's doing it until they ban it. Makes perfect sense and it's hard to criticize unless you just don't like Monty.

[metro18]

@Jeff. Ernie said the same thing and he wasn't hammered for it.

[No Longer Used to be Former S & T Convert]

All he is saying that he is playing by the rules. If the rules change, he will abide by and adapt to the new rules and not whine like a golf writer on a bus in Kiawah.

[vinylbudgie]

Shack the Snark 0, Sensible Commenters 4. Well done everyone so far.

I know Colin can come across as pompous at times, and he may not cut the sveltest of figures (ha, bloody ha), but your tiresome propensity to pile in with faux snark at his every utterence says a lot more about you than it does about him. Can't you lay off?

[Ivan Morris]

Monty not whining would be news but the only part of this statement that should be taken issue with is the idea that anybody fed off him when he was No. 2.

[Viz]

Finally a person with common sense speak up, thank you Monty! Could not agree more with you!

[Chris from DE]

A basic tenant of morality: If you know something is wrong, and you believe in your gut that something is wrong, shouldn't you not do it (regardless of what the "laws" or "rules" say)? I know cheating on my wife is wrong, but it's not illegal. Would it be okay to cheat on her until it's deemed illegal?

[KLG]

Actually cheating on your wife is against the law in some jurisdictions, though not often prosecuted. It can certainly lead to court martial and separation from service with loss of all benefits in the military. Morality has nothing to do with this. It's strictly a matter of arbitrary rules for a game, of all things. OK, maybe a sport. I don't think the home mortgage interest deduction is particularly good public policy, but that line will be filled out on Schedule A once again in April. Is that immoral?

[Hawkeye]

Chris, that was one of the least sensible comparison's I've ever heard. But let me spin it so that it's at least somewhat comparable to the long putter vs. short putter debate: Would you cheat on your wife if a woman far hotter than your wife made a pass at you, and your wife was perfectly OK with it until 2016?

[Average Golfer]

So what Monty's really saying is that at some point in the future he's becoming unhinged.

[Tom]

Monty wants a model much longer than the others, so he can anchor it under his man boobs :)

[Geoff]

I must say it's touching that you think Monty the golfer is relevant. So working on that premise, yes, he's certainly entitled to do as he pleases. But advocating against the act while engaging in it? That's not hypocrisy?

[Kevin part deux]

The Rules of Golf are not a morality test. Monty makes sense.

[No Longer Used to be Former S & T Convert]

No more hypocritical that all of the players on "The List" who advocate slowing the ball down, yet play with a hot legal ball.

[DTF]

Greatest player EVER in the Ryder Cup! I think Monty has some solid golf left in him and hope to see some good play from him in 2013.

Maybe we should start up an official For & Against List and keep a running total?

[Press Agent]

As someone already pointed out, Ernie Els said the exact same thing on numerous occasions now. He knows it's wrong, thinks it's cheating, but is going to do it until told he can't. What's more important is that after making that pronouncement, Els went on to win another major.
@Hawkeye, spot on. lol.

[IanB]

Good on you Monty, Just say it as it is. Nothing wrong with that

[Hawkeye]

Geoff's site has been hacked by John Huggan.

P.S. Bull's eye, S&T!

[Geoff]

Find some reduced flight balls and I'd play them. Jack might even too! I'm just glad you guys agree it's cheating.

[metro18]

I don't. If it's not against the rules, how can it be cheating?

[No Longer Used to be Former S & T Convert]

Geoff- I easily found lots of "never hit" boxes of Titleist Tour 100 Balata balls on eBay for as low as $25. See link below. Also found lots of "near mint" Titleist professionals at another site. I imagine it would be even easier for a pro on "The List".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brand-New-Titleist-Tour-100-Balata-Golf-Balls-One-Dozen-New-in-Box-Tour-Issue-/290808653349?pt=US_Golf_Balls&hash=item43b58be625

[DTF]

Me either.

So, today is November 8th.

If they are really going to get this "ban" done it's gonna have to be next week, or sometime in the 4 weeks after Thanksgiving.

Does anyone really believe they are that far along? Is there any sort of conference or rule making gathering during those 5 weeks from which an announcement of this type might emanate? Surely somebody knows someone close to the deal....what's the inside scoop?!?

Crunch time!

[No Longer Used to be Former S & T Convert]

Found some never hit Titleist 100 balatas on eBay for $25 / dozen. Seems to be plenty of other options on the web, as well.