Officials to discuss rule for using long putters
Sunday, July 22, 2012
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) -- Golf officials are discussing whether they should ban long putters.
Ernie Els became the third champion in the last four majors to use a belly putter. He won the British Open after Adam Scott -- who uses a long putter -- bogeyed his last four holes. Webb Simpson won the U.S. Open and Keegan Bradley won the PGA Championship using belly putters.
Royal & Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson says the discussion on long putters began before Els won. He says the R&A and U.S. Golf Association have the topic "firmly back on the radar" and a decision could be a few months away.
Dawson says it could be a change to the rules -- not an equipment decision -- which means it could not be in effect until 2016.
