Langer was 8-under through the first two rounds, then came the questioning about his putting stroke being legal. Then he was 6-over his last two rounds on the weekend following the enquiry.

So he either became aware of the scrutiny and struggled under the natural stress of being under the microscope that he might be doing something not permitted, or perhaps he adjusted his putting technique to comply with the new standard because he no longer was flying under the radar.

Again... people seem to be focusing exclusively on his left hand, whether or not it's anchored against his chest. That's not the only part of this that determines compliance with the new standard. Per the USGA link I provided, it also explains that the left forearm isn't permitted to be anchored to his side - only his elbow. His forearm cannot be braced against against his body.

The USGA has introduced (for the first time, I might add) this inexplicable precedent of "intent." As in, "did you intentionally fail to comply with those two standards or was it merely incidental?"

Like I said initially... the USGA had no intention whatsoever of putting themselves or tournament rules officials in the position of directly enforcing the new standard. They created this rule in hopes that fellow playing competitors would police/enforce the new standard. And even when it was brought to their attention, they simply deferred to the player in question, ultimately giving him the final say regarding whether or not he was in compliance.

I will no longer find fault with Langer, McCarron, etc. regarding how they putt. This is all on the USGA now and the fact that they created an incredibly stupid, unenforceable rule that never should've been made to begin with.

I might also add.... the video showing Langer putting and obviously in breach of the new rule - that's an old video that shows him making a practice stroke. He, like a few others, maintain that they rehearse an anchored stroke before making their actual (legal) putting stroke. So there's nothing there to support an argument either way, since it's not illegal to make a practice stroke however one wants, as long as it's not the actual stroke.

I don't say that to exonerate Langer from any wrongdoing.... I have my suspicions like a lot of other people. But at the same time - the actual act of striking the ball is the standard, not the practice stroke. (just to be fair)

  • ode replied to this.

    PA-PLAYA I believe the link I posted coming from Haney's Twitter page was during a round....you can here him or commentator in the audio, seemingly being interviewed and going through the hilites of his round, one of them being an up and down where they showed the short putt, "wedged it to about a foot"....can't tell if its Langer it a commentator. Wouldn't make much sense to tweet a video of him practicing!

        ode

        This was hashed about at Geoff Schackelford's website back when Haney initially posted this video to twitter a few months back, and a few regular contributors there (one who is a former touring rules official) who are closer to the goings on at that level than me and seem to be somewhat reliable sources) claimed that they watched the telecast and did the comparison via DVR to the footage Haney posted, which is why they claimed it was a practice stroke.

        So I'm only assuming that what they argued was legit, especially considering that Hank didn't post Langer actually stroking the ball during that snippet of coverage. I honestly don't know... there's no proof that he stroked the ball with that technique, there's no proof that he didn't. Whether he did or didn't - naturally I can't say.

        Hank has been critical of Langer's technique for a while, like many of us. Whether he posted a video snippet out-of-context or not - I guess is the question. I do find it interesting that he stopped the video prior to discovery of an actual putting stroke or not.

        Again, just trying to be mindful of both sides of the discussion.

        I do, however, find it incredibly interesting that a guy who shot 67-65 on Thurs/Fri, and was then questioned by rules officials, suddenly shot 72-74 on Sat/Sun. Again, whether that was because of the anxiety being place upon him because of this perception of wrong doing or perhaps an adjustment made to be in compliance... I have my suspicions.

        That said, Bernhard Langer has never (to my knowledge anyway) done anything prior to this to cause me to question his integrity.

        Regardless, I think most of us agree that it's a stupid rule, especially given the discretionary standard of proof being ultimately unenforceable. The USGA never had any "intention" of enforcing this rule imo, just throwing it out there under the guise that they were trying to uphold a certain standard of how the game is played.

        And what burns my ass is that I play regularly with 2 guys who used to anchor with a long putter/belly putter... who used to be rather good players on the greens, who used to be highly competitive. The new techniques that both of those guys have adjusted and now employ as a result of this rule change has had an enormous impact on their scores and they're finding the game incredibly frustrating.

        "Scott, I've putted like that since I took up the game 20 years ago," the one guy said to me earlier in the season. "It was like they just pulled the rug out from under my enjoyment of the game when they changed this last year. Now I'm not sure I even want to keep playing anymore. I can't be competitive in tournaments, my handicap has ballooned. I'm not sure I even want to bother with continuing to play after this year."

        There ya go. Well done, USGA.



          Thx for the info on the Haney vid....agreed, he should not be judged based on (potentially) misleading information.

          To your point about his fall off in play.... IMO, we shall see as there is plenty of season left.

          Par4QC

          Looks pretty clear cut to me.

          I think Bernhard better figure out a new technique. Otherwise his integrity as a standup competitor is finished.

              When they made the 'ban' against anchoring, they should have gone a step further, or instead of banning 'anchoring', just ban putters over a certain length. Would have put a stop to any controversies up front.
              USGA= dummies.

              PA-PLAYA a standup competitor

              😉...I'll bet that wasn't a planned pun, eh?

                  Par4QC

                  They should've left well enough alone. Too much emphasis on what is happening at the paid-to-play level and not enough emphasis on the pay-to-play level.

                  They are a bunch of dummies, indeed.

                    In my league play we have a guy who uses the long putter and anchors it, as he was taught years ago, and he is pretty good. We took a vote and declared his use of the long putter legal for league play. (unanimous) It was then decided that When the USGA pays our greens fees or membership fees they can dictate to us what the rules of our play will be in our league. We play this game for our enjoyment not for our living and we will vote to adjust the rules for our play. As one member suggested - "the USGA and their dumb and dumber rules can go **** themselves".

                    Langer and McCarron's integrity will continue to be questioned as long as they're putting style is so close to the line of being illegal. However, as Curtis Strange said the rule is unenforceable. The USGA should admit they made a mistake and reverse the anchoring ban.

                    If we remember anchoring was alright before Ernie, Adam, Keegan and Webb started winning Majors by anchoring. Mike Davis was on the Golf Channel a few months before someone won a Major using anchoring and said the USGA had no plans to change the rule. That soon changed after Majors were won using anchoring.

                      Sneakylong said the rule is unenforceable

                      Let's see how this plays out at The (British) Open. If anyone is using them there.

                        Sure looked to me that Langer was anchoring when I was watching on Saturday.

                        ode changed the title to Lanchor..... .
                        8 days later

                        This whole conversation is exactly why I dumped my broom after the rules change.

                        Many people said, including here and FGI...RIP, simply change to un-anchored or screw them and stay anchored. No biggie....people said, to use it anchored and certainly un-anchored. WRONG!!!

                        My response, someone will still say something which would piss the s*it out of me knowing I had practiced my a** off to do it the "legal" way. My bet is it would be someone not knowing the rule and questioning using a broom period.

                        So I now use a conventional putter, even though I can't practice like I desire due to back issues.

                        I thought about creating my own broom with the most ultimate perimeter weighted putter possible, a Cure, just to piss some people off and have a massively forgiving putter with so much weight it would literally swing itself. This would make it even easier to use IMHO with an obviously and indisputable un-anchored stroke. However, it is not worth the time, effort and $$$$.

                        So it is Langer and also the amateur at this years Masters under scrutiny. Not surprising as it was only a matter of time.

                        I would be shocked if the other players allowed him / Langer to take money from their pockets using an "illegal" stroke.

                        mikeintopeka I think at age 55, it's time for ol' Brandell to be put out to pasture. Getting too damn mouthy the last few months. And just how the hell did that young girl see fit to marry him? She's not even blonde!!

                          The USGA are a bunch of asswipes, they'll bend over for anyone or anything that increases their viewership, attendance or income. Anchored putting, PED's, mismarked balls, only the little guys get hurt, their stars enjoy immunity. Their rules enforcement is a joke.