The European Tour officially confirmed they support the move to ban anchoring of the club and heaped more pressure on the PGA Tour to fall into line with the rest of the game.
It had been anticipated from comments made by executive director George O’Grady that the European Tour would not move against the R&A and the USGA’s joint proposal, primarily aimed at outlawing the belly putter.
However, the tour took the step of making their position crystal clear.
In a statement from Tour HQ at Wentworth, O’Grady did refer to the PGA Tour and PGA of America’s opposition to the proposal to be 14.1b in the Rules of Golf but unlike the PGA Tour’s policy board, the European Tournament Committee were unanimous in support of the ban, said O’Grady.
O’Grady said: “The European Tour has been fully involved in the consultation process which ended on February 28 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.”
O’Grady echoed the comments of the PGA chief executive Sandy Jones at the weekend that the circumstances of green preparation in the USA might have influenced greater use of anchoring there.
“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,” continued O’Grady.
“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.”
Jones, who represents Britain and Ireland’s club professionals, suggested greater green speeds in the US due to weather conditions and preparation might make the issue more marked there.
However, he dismissed many of the points made by PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, particularly suggesting that up to 20% of amateurs used the anchoring method.
Only Augusta National Golf Club, who run the Masters, the Australian Tour and the Asian Tour have yet to make official comment on whether they support the proposed ban.