If Euros Support Anchoring Ban, What Happens In WGC's?

Alex Miceli and Alistair Tait file a report confirming the Telegraph's suggestion that the European Tour is prepared to back the governing bodies and support the proposed ban on anchored putting.

Miceli and Tait quote Commissioner George O'Grady chalking the Americanization of green speeds as a reason it's an issue in the States but not Europe.

"It's not such a big deal, in my opinion, in Europe because of the course setups," O'Grady said. "Very rarely can you get greens as firm and fast as you can in the States."

And they write:

The European Tour’s stance will be greeted with relief by the R&A and USGA. The governing bodies’ authority would have been severely undermined if the world’s top two tours had come out in support of the anchoring stroke.

Now, however, the stage has been set for a scenario in which PGA Tour players might have to ditch their long or belly putters to play in European Tour events.

And since the World Golf Championship events are co-sanctioned by the European Tour, would this mean WGC's would also be free of anchoring as well? Or would special PGA Tour Rules To Protect Our Product be put in place at those events?

Comments

[20/20 rearview]

Interesting comment to bring up green speeds.
Long putters were pretty big in Australia and the US

No anchoring ban, ban greens faster than 9.5

[DTF]

PGA Tour has the gold, their rules will prevail in WGC's.

[JRP]

Shit-show.

[Brad]

Still loads of time for this thing to sort itself out. I don't see the USGA and R&A changing their tune, they are stewards of the game and believe that anchoring should be banned. If the Euro Tour and all the other tours are on board, that will definately leave the PGA Tour in a pickle. It seems like their brand has already taken a hit and that should concern them greatly. People will start changing the channel if they start to perceive the Tour as arrogant and aloof. At that point players can start kissing seven digit winner cheques good-bye.

[Mark]

I do think the anchored stroke is a result of 12 and 13 green speeds. When you play a old course with greens like wing foot at a 13 one needs to putt with a soft touch and I think a belly putter is better. Especially on those 3 foot sliders. No one anchored in the 1900, because you almost chipped our putts.

[Josh]

Perhaps they'll stop playing the silly things.

[DTF]

Brad, you're dreaming. The PGA Tour just sailed through one the all-time great financial debacles unscathed. They are playing for more money than ever and are now the home tour for Rory and Westwood, as well as at least 18 of the top-20 players in the OWGR (I think). There are a number of things not to like about the way the tour is run but to suggest it's anything short of thriving is off base.

[Brad]

Del....I didn't say it wasn't thriving now, just looking ahead. Five years from now you won't see much of Tiger or Phil. Large, large shoes to fill. They don't need other issues clouding their brand as well. Once people start tuning out its hard to get them back

[Nubi]

What about Ryder cups? While American cheat with long putters, Europeans still winning despite. LoL.

[Ben]

so wait, now some are saying that the anchor method does actually help to make putting easier....i thought it was deny, deny, deny.

limit green speeds to 12 and lets get back to skill rather and agressive putting rather than guys to afraid to run it by the hole on anything outside 6ft.

[Stanley Thompson]

If anchoring did not help them they would not do it.

[Rob]

Well done European Tour.

That tour continues to make gains. Compared to 25 years ago, it is about half way to supplanting the PGA Tour as the world's best (clear-headed thinking, not run by a self-perpetuating middle class of non-winning millionaraires, internationalization).