PGA Tour against 'belly putter' ban
updated 7:35 AM EST, Mon February 25, 2013
American star Phil Mickelson briefly used a "belly" putter on the PGA Tour but abandoned the idea after mixed results.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The PGA Tour opposes the proposed ban of anchored putting in golf
- The USGA and R & A plan to outlaw the technique by 2016
- PGA Tour says there is no evidence that using the "belly putter" offers an advantage
- Matt Kuchar beats compatriot Hunter Mahan to win the WGC match play at Dove Mountain
(CNN) -- To belly putt or not to belly putt, that is the question.
Golf's governing bodies could be on a collision course after the PGA Tour announced it is opposed to the banning of anchored putting by the sport's lawmakers.
The controversial technique, which involves anchoring the club to a part of the body, is favored by major winners Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els.
The Royal & Ancient (R & A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) put forward proposed rule changes in November which would effectively outlaw use of the controversial "belly putter" by 2016.
The R & A is the rule-making authority throughout the world of golf, excluding the U.S. and Mexico where the USGA runs the sport.
Snow balls
Caught cold
Scraping a living
White out
It's snow joke as desert gets a dusting
Keeping watch
HIDE CAPTION
It's snow joke as desert gets a dusting
Inside McIlroy's mega deal with Nike
Obama catches flak for lack of access
Watch a 'putting conga line'
The U.S.-based PGA Tour rejects the suggested law change saying there is no evidence the technique offers a "competitive advantage" over more traditional putting methods.
Read: Obama, Tiger round irks press
"Essentially where the PGA Tour came down was that they did not think that banning anchoring was in the best interest of golf or the PGA Tour," the circuit's commissioner Tim Finchem told a press conference at the World Golf Championship event at Dove Mountain.
Finchem insisted the PGA Tour is yet to consider the course of action it would take if the ban was implemented and whether it would rally against the USGA.
"Our regulations provide that we will follow the rules as promulgated by the USGA provided, however, we retain the right not to in certain instances if we see fit," he added.
"But we have not even begun that discussion. All we've done is done what we were asked to do, which is to give them our best input and advice on that particular initiative.
"That's a different question, and it would be speculative for me to guess where that might come out."
Meanwhile, Matt Kuchar beat fellow American Hunter Mahan to clinch his first title of 2013 at the match play event.
The world No. 8 has won 14 of his last 16 matches at the Arizona course, with Kuchar's dominance such that none of his matches made it to the 18th hole.
Kuchar held off a stern challenge from Mahan over the back nine to seal a 2 and 1 win.
"I'm not sure I can explain how excited I am to have won this tournament," Kuchar told the PGA Tour's official website.
"Match play I find to be such an amazing, unique format, so much fun to play and so much pressure. It seems like each hole there's so much momentum riding and so much pressure on every hole.
"To come out on top after six matches of playing guys, the top 64 guys in the world, it's an incredible feeling."
Part of complete coverage on
updated 12:15 PM EDT, Tue April 16, 2013
Masters champion Adam Scott not only has to contend with national hero status at home but also the role of golf's latest sex symbol.
updated 7:18 AM EDT, Fri April 12, 2013
Discover why golf's old school establishment fears a new breed of players creating new popularity with their online antics.
updated 2:54 PM EDT, Thu April 11, 2013
Following the web's reaction to Adam Scott's dramtic triumph at the 2013 Masters.
updated 10:08 AM EDT, Fri April 12, 2013
It's not just golf that makes Augusta so special -- there's also James Brown, cheese pimiento sandwiches, turkeys and ghosts.
updated 9:00 AM EDT, Tue March 26, 2013
As a swimmer, his countless hours of training paid off handsomely. As a golfer, Michael Phelps is wondering what he got himself into.
updated 9:06 AM EDT, Mon April 1, 2013
American D.A. Points celebrates his win at the Houston Open by joining in the "Dufnering" craze that has gripped golf recently.
updated 8:40 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Ernie Els' coach Claude Harmon and former world No.1 Martin Kaymer tell Living Golf that anchored putting is dividing the sport.
updated 8:49 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Matteo Manassero, the youngest player to qualify for the Masters, reflects on his career and the boy who will break one of his records.
updated 8:34 AM EST, Thu March 7, 2013
Living Golf meets Thorbjorn Olesen as the rising star of European golf prepares for the most important tournaments of his career.
updated 3:25 PM EDT, Wed March 13, 2013
Martin Kaymer reflects on his performance at the 39th Ryder Cup, when he sunk the winning putt against the United States.
updated 10:01 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
CNN's Shane O'Donoghue asks how much Rory McIlroy's new multimillion-dollar sponsorship deal is really worth.
updated 12:48 PM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
Living Golf meets Paul McGinley, who talks about becoming Europe's new Ryder Cup captain.
updated 6:49 AM EST, Mon February 18, 2013
Paul McGinley's former captain, Sam Torrance, shares some advice for the pro golfer turned new Ryder Cup captain.
updated 10:16 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
Don Riddell explores whether Tuscany can follow up on Italy's successes on the European Tour and develop golf tourism.
updated 10:12 AM EST, Thu February 7, 2013
2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer shares his favorite shots with CNN's Shane O'Donoghue.
updated 1:40 PM EST, Tue February 5, 2013
Two men with lofty ambitions in a midwestern town of the United States have finally realized their dream after months of endeavor.
updated 7:13 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue explores the changing role of black players in South African golf.
updated 8:07 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Shane O'Donoghue meets South Africa's Branden Grace, the outstanding breakout player from the 2012 European season.
updated 7:14 AM EST, Thu January 3, 2013
Shane O'Donoghue meets Dr. Sherylle Calder, the woman who taught reigning British Open champion Ernie Els how to putt again.
updated 9:39 AM EST, Sat December 22, 2012
It's crazy golf on an insane scale -- a putting green swimming in a giant bowl of noodles and the Great Wall of China for a hazard.