Well they’ve got three years to practice…Martin Vousden on the long farewell.

Thought for the Day:
If it’s true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

Anchors aweigh
The R&A and USGA have collectively climbed off the fence on which they have been sitting for more than 30 years, and announced their intention to effectively outlaw long putters. Having decided that, from 2016 we will not be able to anchor the long flat stick to any part of our body, they are, in essence, banning them because they are just about impossible to use without an anchor point. In the wake of the press release telling us of this change it is informative to compare the comments made by one player who will be affected, before and after the ban was announced.

Keegan Bradley Before
‘I’m going to do whatever I have to do to protect myself and the other players on Tour. Everybody on Tour who uses an unconventional putter has a big say in this. I hear the USGA and the R&A have talked to a lot of players about this. Well, they’ve never approached me. They should get our side before they make any drastic decision. To say they will ban this after we’ve won majors is unbelievable. It’s the way we’ve practiced and made our living. Some players have put in 15 to 20 years of practice and all of a sudden they’re going to make up a rule. That’s harsh’

Keegan Bradley After
‘I’m obviously not happy with the ruling but I respect the USGA, especially Mike Davis [executive director], and they make the rules and I’ll adjust appropriately… it’ll be an adjustment, but it’s one that I kind of look forward to, to get up and know I’ve got to work hard, and that excites me.’

Do you think someone had a quiet word in his ear?

Ernie Els has also had a change of heart, but in the opposite direction

2004
‘Nerves and putting, I think is part of the game. It’s become such an easy way to putt. You can make a perfect stroke’

2011
‘As long as it’s legal, I’ll keep cheating along with the rest of them.’

2012
‘I believe they [the R&A and USGA] are going to have a couple of legal issues coming their way. We are talking about people’s livelihoods.’

Statistic to make you sick
Before leaving putting, you might be interested to know that in 2012 Luke Donald had a putting success rate of 91% from inside 10 feet. And in 2011 he went 449 holes without three-putting (that’s just about 25 rounds of golf, or more than six tournaments).

Big Mouth strikes once more
Keegan Bradley isn’t the only golfer to shoot from the lip. Ian Poulter’s been at it again on his Twitter feed. When it was announced by the R&A that the Old Course at St Andrews is going to be modified over the next two years, he replied in typically considered, rational, and reasonable fashion: ‘Let’s put a bridge and a windmill over the Valley of sin as well just as another option when playing the last hole.

‘They might as well move the 11th green into RAF Leuchars air base, that’s basically what they did with the tee box at 17 last time.

‘I know, let’s draw a moustache on the Mona Lisa, I’m sure everyone would like that. Same as messing with a great course.

‘If they make changes to the Old Course they are insane. The course is great, just leave the winning score up to Mother Nature.’

According to this logic, the Old Course should still have 21 holes (which it did originally) and be played back to front (first tee to 17^th green and so on), which is also how they used to do it. No golf course, no matter how great, can be pickled in vinegar and preserved. Modification, re-design, renewal and upgrading are an integral and essential part of the game. Just look at Augusta National.

As an aside, though, the announcement of the changes to the Old Course was made a few days before the ban on long putters was announced. Do you think this was done in the knowledge that the second story would immediately deflect attention away from the first? No, that’s obviously me just being cynical.

On the subject of egos
Any mention of Ian Poulter usually involves self-regard, and a tiny news item took my attention a few weeks back but I haven’t had chance to mention it. Greg Norman spoke out about Rory versus Tiger and said that he thought the former world number one, and holder of 14 major titles, was intimidated by the current number one, and holder of two majors. He added: ‘I think he (Tiger) knows his time is up and that’s normal; these things tend to go in 15-year cycles. Jack took it from Arnold, I took it from Jack, Tiger from me. Now it looks like Rory’s taking it from Tiger.’

So Greg, with two majors on his CV, thinks that he, and not Tom Watson (eight majors), took over the mantle of best golfer from Jack Nicklaus. Ego knows no bounds.

Quote of the Week
It takes hundreds of good golf shots to gain confidence, but only one bad one to lose it
Jack Nicklaus