Anchoring Debate Erupts On Champions Tour
Golf Channel analyst called anchoring on the PGA Tour Champions as "appalling"
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee called anchoring on the PGA Tour Champions as "appalling", saying he had "never seen such a gross disregard of the spirit of the game"
Anchoring Debate Erupts On Champions Tour
The US Senior Open concluded at the weekend, with Kenny Perry sealing his fourth Senior Major with a two stoke victory over Kirk Triplett at Salem County Club in Massachusetts.
However, the main talking point was golf's anchoring ban, and specifically how PGA Tour Champions superstar Bernhard Langer and 2016 Senior Open winner Scott McCarron may have been breaching it.
Golf's governing bodies banned anchoring in 2016, meaning the putter could not come into contact with the body during the stroke.
Related: Why they banned anchoring
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee wrote on twitter during the Senior Open: "With regard to the anchoring ban on the PGA Tour Champions,it's appalling,I have never seen such gross disregard for the spirit of the game."
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Langer was not mentioned in Chamblee's tweets, and he may have also been referring to American Scott McCarron who uses a long putter.
Two-time major winner and Champions Tour player John Daly got in on the conversation, tweeting: "I've always said putter shouldn't be 2" longer than ur belly. Now #ruleistoovague It's the consciousness of the player to do the rt thing!"
Related: Sky Sports' Wayne Riley on the anchored putter
Langer reportedly met with USGA officials over the weekend, and told the media: "They brought it to my attention, but they said it was totally within the rules.
"For people to be complaining, they often don't know what they are talking about."
A user tweeted this picture of Langer, with another commenting that he only does this on his practice strokes.
Another user defended Langer, tweeting: "If you watched the Sr Open today, he's clearly not anchoring. That left hand was moving all over the place."
Either way, the anchoring rule could be seen as vague.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Srixon Z Star XV
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