<p>Golf’s governing bodies announced on Tuesday that they will ban the anchoring of putters from 2016 in a move which will please traditionalists but could lead to a split in the game among the professional ranks. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The ban was first proposed by the Royal and Ancient (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) in November. Players and the golfing community were then given 90 days in which to discuss the proposal. <br /><br />The European Tour expressed its support for the idea but both the US PGA Tour and PGA of America voiced opposition. <br /><br />“We took a great deal of time to consider this issue and received a variety of contributions from individuals and organisations at all levels of the game,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said in a statement. <br /><br />“We recognise this has been a divisive issue but after thorough consideration we remain convinced this is the right decision for golf,” he added ahead of this week’s PGA Championship at Wentworth, England. <br /><br />USGA president Glen D Nager said the new rule would uphold the “essential nature of the traditional method of the stroke and eliminate the possible advantage that anchoring provides”.</p>
<p>Golf’s governing bodies announced on Tuesday that they will ban the anchoring of putters from 2016 in a move which will please traditionalists but could lead to a split in the game among the professional ranks. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The ban was first proposed by the Royal and Ancient (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA) in November. Players and the golfing community were then given 90 days in which to discuss the proposal. <br /><br />The European Tour expressed its support for the idea but both the US PGA Tour and PGA of America voiced opposition. <br /><br />“We took a great deal of time to consider this issue and received a variety of contributions from individuals and organisations at all levels of the game,” R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said in a statement. <br /><br />“We recognise this has been a divisive issue but after thorough consideration we remain convinced this is the right decision for golf,” he added ahead of this week’s PGA Championship at Wentworth, England. <br /><br />USGA president Glen D Nager said the new rule would uphold the “essential nature of the traditional method of the stroke and eliminate the possible advantage that anchoring provides”.</p>