European Tour backs anchor ban

O’Grady outlines support for plans to outlaw controversial method

Backing the ban: European Tour chief executive George O’Grady has spoken out in support of a ban on anchoring

A week on from the PGA Tour announcing its opposition to the USGA and R&A’s plans to ban the practise of anchoring, the European Tour has come out and endorsed the governing bodies’ proposal.

In a statement, the European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said: “The European Tour has been fully involved in the consultation process which ended on February 28th, and deeply value this involvement. Our Members support the unique role played by the governing bodies in formulating the Rules of Golf.

“Additionally, virtually all of our Tournament Committee and player representatives support the proposed rule even though they are aware, and have taken into account, the fact that some Members and especially our Senior Members use the anchored method.

“We understand the points put forward by the PGA Tour and the PGA of America and respect and sympathise with their views, which are based on their experience and the evidence before them, and have been expressed with great concern for the game.

“The whole issue has received far greater focus and comment in the United States than in the rest of the world, perhaps because of the numbers of their golfers using the anchored method, and the set up in general terms of their golf courses and the firmness and speed of their greens.”

O’Grady’s stance, and that of the European Tour, could not be further removed from that of his PGA Tour counterpart Tim Finchem and the circuit on the opposite side of the Atlantic.

During the telecast of the final round of last week’s WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship, Finchem outlined the PGA Tour’s opposition to the proposal on the grounds that there was no evidence that anchored strokes provided players with any sort of an advantage over those who do not use the controversial method.

“In the absence of data or any basis to conclude that there is a competitive advantage to be gained by using anchoring, and given the amount of time that anchoring has been in the game, that there is no overriding reason to go down that road,” said Finchem.

“I think we could understand it if for some reason or another … it had negative results for the game of golf. We have to look at it from the standpoint of is it good, bad or indifferent for the game as a whole – professional level, amateur level – and we conclude that it’s not a bad thing.”

The PGA Tour followed the PGA of America in announcing its opposition to the move.

The proposal was announced in a joint statement by the R&A and USGA on November 28. Outlining the suggested rule change, the two bodies also confirmed a 90-day consultation period in which they would listen to arguments from both sides of the discussion. That ended last Thursday.

A verdict on the proposal is expected some time in the Spring.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor