Tom Watson and Greg Norman want to see ban on long putters

By MARTIN DEMPSTER
Published on 26/07/2012 00:00

TOM Watson and Greg Norman have both called for long putters to be banned after seeing three of the last four majors fall to players using belly putters.

The duo, who have ten majors between them, spoke out after more than a quarter of the field, including winner Ernie Els and runner-up Adam Scott, used long putters in last week’s Open Championshp at Royal Lytham.

The R&A and USGA are looking into the use of long putters, with a strong possibility of them being banned from 2016.

On the eve of the Senior Open Championship at Turnberry, Watson said: “I think I would agree with the decision if they outlawed anchoring on the body.”

The five-times Open champion revealed he had a particular issue with the broomhandled putter used by Scott after it was pioneered by the likes of Sam Torrance and Bernhard Langer.

“That is not a stroke of golf,” he said in gesturing as if holding a putter under his chin and demonstrating a pendulum motion. “That just isn’t golf.”

Offering a less forceful opinion on the belly version as he lodged an imaginary putter in his stomach, Watson added: “It’s a grey area when you’re in here. But we’ll just have to wait and see when and if they make a 
decision.”

Despite being Scott’s mentor, Norman said he was sticking to the opinion he aired on long putters when they first appeared on the scene.

“About 15-20 years ago, when Peter Senior and Wayne Riley were using them, I was very vocal against it. When you 
have something hinged to an 
anchor, it’s not a true swing,” said the double Open champion.

“We all have nerves. We all have to figure out how to play the game with those little twitches or whatever it is. To see that element taken out either by drugs or a piece of equipment that helps you alleviate it, I’m not for that.”