Analysis: "The vast majority of legal precedents say clearly and unequivocally that governing bodies like the USGA enjoy unfettered authority to determine the rules..."

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Lester Munson considers the legal case of belly putterers and does not deliver good news for the Keegan's and Carl's of the world contemplating a court fight.

If the golfing authorities were attempting to ban the long putter itself, there may be some relief in the courts for equipment manufacturers, but even that would not be not a sure thing. The change being considered, however, is not a ban on long putters; it's a change in the definition of the golf stroke that would prohibit anchoring the long putter against the chest or the body.

In some circumstances, litigation or the threat of litigation can become leverage in a settlement discussion with the ruling body of a sport. The square-grooves-on-golf-clubs controversy is one example. But the legal basis for any claim on anchoring is so weak that the litigation would end before the players could begin to negotiate for, say, a grandfather clause that would allow them to continue to use their long putters but ban anchoring for new players.

Owen On Gairloch Golf

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Some of you may recall my images and positive comments about Inverness this summer and after seeing David Owen's review of Gairloch Golf Club, there's yet another reason to make this the base of a phenomenal links trip with stunning scenery thrown in.

Based on maps, this 9-holer looks like it's about ninety minutes from Inverness, where you can also easily access Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Nairn, etc...

Agent: 5-Hour Energy Wanted Furyk For "Family-Man" Persona, Not For His Kinetic Acting Presence

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Alan Bastable follows up with Jim Furyk's agent following a New York Times report of health issues initiated by the 5-hour Energy drink that has become synonymous with the veteran pro.

Witlieb would not reveal how much his client is paid to endorse the supplement, but he did say, "Lord knows this deal was out there for everyone." According to Witlieb, the company also considered signing Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, or Gary Woodland, but settled on Furyk because of his "family-man" persona.

The ad, in case you were just released from Guantanamo Bay: