Pros react to USGA / R&A anchoring ban

There was a mixed reaction to the USGA / R&A ban on anchoring putters from the games elite. Here is a selection of comments from the worlds best: 

Ross Fisher: "I plainly think it's cheating. I don't think you should be able to anchor the club. Whether that's right or wrong, everyone has got their own opinions, but it kind of takes the feel out of the game. I think I remember listening to [Padraig] Harrington at the World Golf Grand Slam. If something doesn't happen, it's almost going to be like the long putter is going to be the putter of choice when kids are growing up.'"

Alex Noren: "If they want to use it, I think it's fine. I'm not using it, but at the same time, I mean, you've got to read the putts, you've got to hit it the right speed, and it's not just about the putter. It's like if I putt better with it, I would use it, but I don't think I do."

Arjun Atwal: "I like it. I don't putt with a belly putter, and I think from what people have told me it's unfair. I can't putt with it anyways, so I don't know how it's unfair, but people think that anchoring is taking the nerves out of play when you putt.

"I suck when I try putting with the belly or long putter, Like, I really, really suck at it. People do have nerves, and it takes that out. If that happens then I don't think it's fair, so yeah, get rid of it."

Graeme McDowell: “Careful and considered from the USGA/R&A on rule change banning anchoring of a golf club to the body. Only decision that could be made #2016”

Gary Player: “The R&A and USGA have made the right call on not allowing anchoring whilst still leaving all players to use long putters.”

Keegan Bradley: "In the next couple of years, I'm really going to have to figure out a way that's best for me to putt,I'm obviously not happy with the ruling, but I respect the USGA.

"They make the rules, and I'll adjust appropriately. I'm going to accept the challenge and hopefully do well when they do ban it."

Fred Couples: "I do use a belly putter and when I started I used it for my back. I push back into my belly and lean over to a certain point. Now will it (the putter) touch my belly once in a while? Yeah, but it's not really anchored so I don't really know if that is affected by the rule”

"So far they (rulemakers) haven't screwed up the game of golf, and I don't think this will screw it up. But I feel bad for a lot of the younger players who have never done it (putt) any other way."

Tiger Woods: "I just believe that the art of putting is swinging the club and controlling nerves and having it as a fixed pointed. As I was saying all year, [it's] something that's not in the traditions of the game. We swing all other 13 clubs. I think the putter should be the same. It should be a swinging motion throughout the bag."

Rory McIlroy: "Fully agree with the anchoring ban," "Better image for the game of golf, skill and nerves are all part of the game. Level playing field”

Dustin Johnson: “Anchored putter ban makes no difference to me. Didn't care for 'em in the first place!!!”

Golfshake contributor Nick Bonfield has taken a look inside the stats of the anchored putter - Click Here

The USGA has also released an excellent info-graphic explaining the proposed rule change - Click Here