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Monty urges PGA Tour to get in line over putters

Colin Montgomerie wants the PGA Tour to stay in line with the R&A and USGA © Getty Images

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Colin Montgomerie has called for the PGA Tour to align themselves with the anchored putting ban issued by the R&A and USGA under the new Rule 14-1b on Tuesday.

The PGA Tour's commissioner, Tim Finchem, had previously hinted at opposing the ban, saying there isn't enough evidence to suggest anchoring offers a player any kind of advantage.

But eight time European Tour Order of Merit winner Montgomerie says we must not end up in a situation where the PGA Tour plays under a separate set of rules to the rest of the golfing world.

He told Sky Sports News: "This horrible word, 'bifurcation', where there's two opposites, where a road forks off in two directions, that's what we don't want to do with the rules of golf so I'm so glad that everyone's come to this conclusion.

"The PGA Tour have to [support it] now. I think Tim Finchem was right to speak on behalf of his own players at the time but now this has come in I think that he has to follow suit and we'll be as one which it has to be."

Since the ban was confirmed, a statement from the PGA Tour read: "We will now begin our process to ascertain whether the various provisions of Rule 14-1b will be implemented in our competitions and, if so, examine the process for implementation.

"In this regard, over the next month we will engage in discussions with our Player Advisory Council and Policy Board members.

"We will announce our position regarding the application of Rule 14-1b to our competitions upon conclusion of our process and we will have no further comment on the matter until that time."

Nine time major champion Gary Player was quick to add his opinion on the matter.

"I must congratulate the R&A," the South African told Sky Sports News. "Three years is a long time - I think one year would have been right but I'm not going to argue with it.

"I spent so much of my time - hours and hours - training my mind to have good nerves under pressure. The long putter takes away the nerves, it allows you to hide the nerves and nerves are an integral part of the game of golf."

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