First PGA Tour Anchoring Controversy

[nevets88]

Bad puns indeed, too tempting to use the nautical phrase.

Or is it a mini controversy? Dude, your clothing is too loose? How is this going to trickle down to the amateur ranks? Am I going to get annoyed by some anal retentive stranger telling me I'm anchoring?

Quote

Blair, who was in contention, told Golf Channel’s Steve Burkowski that he didn’t even know what rules officials were asking about after the round. He said he wasn’t anchoring, and there’s no reason to doubt him, but this rule is going to create suspicion, often unfairly, especially if players continue to use long putters, with their top hand slightly away from their chests, as opposed to anchored to their chests.

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/after-further-review-poulter-primed-ryder-cup/

Video or it didn't happen:

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/loose-fitting-clothing-causes-issues-anchored-stroke-ban/

[mcanadiens]

I say no. He looked like he had choked down on the grip enough to flirt with the shirt, but it never looked like anchoring to me. Same time, you can bet we'll have this conversation plenty more times this year.

As for my own games, nobody wants to tell me I'm anchoring. Which, of course, I'm not. I'll be doing something else illegal if the guy wants to argue.

[David in FL]

I didn't see it as a controversy, but simply a question of fact, as happens with respect to many different rules every year.  Did the ball move, or just oscillate?  Did the player cause it to move? Was relief or a drop taken correctly, or not?  How about a correct/incorrect stance in the bushes?

The only reason we'll see and hear more about this one for awhile is because it's new, the rule change itself was controversial, and there will be those that want to continue to argue against the rule itself.

[djfajt71]

56 minutes ago, mcanadiens said:

I say no. He looked like he had choked down on the grip enough to flirt with the shirt, but it never looked like anchoring to me. 

I agree, the replays seemed to show that the club never altered the shirt until after the stroke had ended. 

[Aflighter]

This is exactly the reason I said this new rule is plain stupid.Its going to open a whole can of worms.Touching the shirt will bring up this question again and again.Is it going to get to the point of replays to make decisions to whether a rule has been broken.

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, Aflighter said:

This is exactly the reason I said this new rule is plain stupid.Its going to open a whole can of worms.Touching the shirt will bring up this question again and again.Is it going to get to the point of replays to make decisions to whether a rule has been broken.

Replays are used to aid in all sorts of rulings.    Are those rules stupid too?

One has nothing to do with the other.

[Gunther]

I saw it live and as soon as they showed the replay knew it wasn't an issue.  The butt of the handle moved measurably, maybe half an inch, from back to front, which proves it wasn't anchored.  Not a big deal, and certainly no cause for alarm or to reverse what I deem was a glorious rule change.  Now, can we talk about those divots?

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Aflighter said:

This is exactly the reason I said this new rule is plain stupid.Its going to open a whole can of worms.Touching the shirt will bring up this question again and again.Is it going to get to the point of replays to make decisions to whether a rule has been broken.

I'd take a bet on that. I don't think it's really going to become an issue. Even this one wasn't really much of anything.

[InTheRough]

there didn't look like any anchoring in the video but I would expect to see a fair amount of these types of issues to pop up now.

Also, a little off topic but it is absolutely absurd that the PGA allows fans to call in to potentially call penalties on players(i don't know if it says it in the article but during the coverage the announcer mentioned that the issue was brought to light by a fan calling in).  Fans should have absolutely no impact on the outcome of an event(in any sport) other than the normal cheering, booing and/or mild heckling.  What if the person that called in had a bet on another golfer and wanted to give their player a better chance at winning by trying to sabotage another?