ELS AND BRADLEY WARN THEY WILL NOT GIVE UP BELLY PUTTERS WITHOUT A LEGAL FIGHT

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
BY JAMES CORRIGAN 
Open champion Ernie Els is warning golf’s governing bodies to expect a bitter legal battle when they ban belly-putters, while American Keegan Bradley has vowed “to do whatever I need to do protect myself” should his club be outlawed.

Court action seems almost inevitable after the pair’s comments here on the eve of the HBSC WGC Championship. The R and A and USGA are intent on banning the method of putting that helped Bradley become the first player to win a major with a long putter at last year’s USPGA. Webb Simpson and Els then used the club to win the US Open and the Open respectively.

Sources indicated that an announcement relating to the rule-change will be made in a month’s time following investigations by the organisations in charge of the game’s rules.

They may defer a decision until a formal vote in March, with the stroke possibly being regulated rather than the equipment. But whatever the timing or the wording, it is clear that belly-putting will become history – unless devotees such as Bradley and Simpson are successful with any legal challenge. “I believe they [the R&A and USGA] are going to have a couple of legal issues coming their way,” Els said. “We are talking about people’s livelihoods.”

Els and Bradley believe the decision has already been made. The latter, who was so impressive as a rookie at the Ryder Cup five weeks ago, is plainly ready to bring in lawyers. “I’m going to do whatever I have to do to protect myself and the other players on Tour,” he said. “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 – which I think they already have.”

Bradley started using the putter about five years ago, following the example of players such as Sam Torrance and Bernhard Langer. Long putters can be traced back to the 1960s, although they become popular on the professional circuit in the Eighties when Johnny Miller employed one to overcome “the yips”. Initially, the governing bodies were unconcerned, but now with a rapid increase in younger players employing the devices, they have been sparked into legislation.

“To say they will ban this after we’ve won majors is unbelievable,” Bradley said. “It’s the way we’ve practised 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.”
Bradley is concerned the rule-change will be felt across the game. “It would be a shame for the amateur player not to be able to use a club that helps them enjoy the game better,” he said. “The USGA and R&A should be trying to attract people to the game rather than pushing them away.”
Then there is the legacy for the belly-putters, who, Bradley believes, would see their victories demeaned. “It would be a very sad thing for people to look back and see our achievements with a belly putter and think, ‘Oh, that shouldn’t even count’,” Bradley said.
The debate has raged for years about the advantages and disadvantages of wielding the huge wand. Bradley points out that only one of the top 20 players on the PGA Tour’s “strokes gained in putting” chart uses an unconventional putter. “Everyone talks about the advantages of using a long putter, but there’s disadvantages,” he said. “There’s more distance control with a short putter; longer putts are much easier.”
Els, meanwhile, sought to debunk the myth over the “magical qualities” of the implement. “It’s not just about tucking it into your belly and you start holing putts,” he said. “A lot of work has to go into it to perfect your style. You still feel the nerves and you can still miss.”
The two ruling bodies have remained tight-lipped on the issue, saying only that the review continues. But two weeks ago, USGA officials met with four of the PGA Tour’s professionals — including the Ryder Cup captain Davis Love — to outline the details of the prospective ban.
Els still holds out a little hope they can convince the rule-makers to reassess. “This can become something they have to address again,” he said. “With all the pressure from players and media maybe they can further consider the issue.”