4 Jul 2013

Anchored putters to be banned on US PGA Tours

6:09 am on 4 July 2013

The US PGA Tour has announced it will adopt a ban on the use of anchored putters, which players have controversially used to win four of the last seven major golf championships.

The Tour's policy board passed a resolution making anchored putters illegal from 2016.

The PGA Tour initially opposed the ban, raising the possibility of a damaging division in golf with different rules being applied on different continents.

Anchored putting at top tournaments dates back to the 1980s when Bernhard Langer adopted it to combat his problems on the greens, but it has become more prevalent in recent years.

World No.1 Tiger Woods has been among those who have been vocal in support for the ban.