• PGA Tour

Golf bodies considering putter rule change

Keegan Bradley made history when he won the 2011 PGA Championship in Atlanta with a long putter © Getty Images

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The belly putter is to come under scrutiny from the US Golf Association and the R&A, after a spike in voiced concerns that an increased use of the club by tour professionals is not in keeping with the spirit of the game.

Earlier this week the US Golf Association's executive director Mike Davis confirmed that the use of the club, which has experienced a steady rise in its presence on the PGA and European tours in the past year, was now being considered by the sport's governing bodies.

"More players are using it, both on the elite level and the recreational level. We want to be sure that we are looking at all the angles and thinking about what is in the best interests of the traditions of the game, the history of the game, and what we think would be good for the game," said Davis.

"If you look back at the interest in it, it really never changed for over 20 years. All of a sudden in 2011 this has become a much bigger topic. So the R&A and USGA have been talking about this at length, and we're looking at it from the perspective (of) what is good for the game for all golfers long term."

The growing use of long putters has divided opinion in the professional game, with Tiger Woods admitting he had never been a huge fan and suggesting a rule change himself.

"My idea was to have it so that the putter would be equal to or less than the shortest club in your bag," Woods said. "I think with that, we'd be able to get away from any type of belly anchoring."

Keegan Bradley became the first player in history to win a major championship with a long putter when he took the PGA Championship in Atlanta last August, a result that led to a significant surge in sales of the club.

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