PGA Tour concedes and accepts anchoring ban

The US PGA Tour has reversed its decision and will accept the anchoring ban.

Professional golf can breathe a collective sigh of relief after the PGA Tour has announced it will go along with the R&A and USGA’s decision to ban anchoring from January 1, 2016.

The PGA Tour had initially indicated it would oppose the anchoring ban but yesterday announced it had reversed its decision, avoiding one of the biggest fractures in professional golf.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem made the announcement at a press conference after a policy board meeting was held on Monday.

“In making its decision, the policy board recognised that there are still varying opinions among our membership, but ultimately concluded that while it is an important issue, a ban on anchored strokes would not fundamentally affect a strong presentation of our competitions or the overall success of the PGA Tour,” PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said.

“The board also was of the opinion that having a single set of rules on acceptable strokes applicable to all professional competitions worldwide was desirable and would avoid confusion.”

Golf’s ruling bodies, the R&A and the USGA announced last month that they intend to change the rules of golf to outlaw anchoring any golf club to the body from January 1, 2016.

Had the PGA Tour gone it alone in allowing anchoring on its tours, the ramifications would have been ugly. Golfers on the world’s most lucrative golf tour would have been allowed to anchor the golf club in the PGA Tour events but it would have been illegal in tournaments such as The Open Championship and the US Open.

We now await to see if there will be any action taken by some of the PGA Tour players who are currently anchoring their putter. Tim Clark has been the most vocal anchorer on tour and has hinted he may sue the tour if they accepted the ban.

I’m guessing the PGA Tour has done their homework on this one and would be ready for any court action that may be ahead of them.