Webb: Long Putters Not Nearly As Skill-Changing As Modern Driver Heads

Just when I was feeling so good about the trajectory of banning anchoring, Webb Simpson had to go and inject these thoughts into the skill/rulemaking debate.

First though, Hank Gola shares Graeme McDowell's discussions with the USGA's Mike Davis and his counter position on anchoring a long putter.

"They feel like their research has shown that putting under pressure down the stretch on the back nine on Sunday, when you can anchor the putter to a part of your body . . . that just takes one extraneous movement out of the putting stroke," he said. "It's just kind of a physical fact that if you can just take one element of movement and motion out of the stroke that holing putts will become easier.

And here's Simpson's comment that certainly makes sense.

"Do I think they should be banned? No, and here's why," he said. "You take a wooden driver compared to a 460 cc's titanium, and to me that's a lot bigger difference than a 35 inch putter to a 45 inch putter. Also last year, the strokes game putting, nobody in the top 20 used a belly putter or a long putter. If anybody says it's an advantage, I think you've got to look at the stats and the facts."

There goes any potential run as a USGA poster child!

The story also includes comments from Keegan Bradley, who is concerned that taking away long putters could cost the manufacturers "millions" of dollars.

 "To me, to change something that big and to cost manufacturers millions of dollars, you've got to have some pretty good facts," he said. "I think just because some of us are winning majors or winning tournaments with the belly putter, I don't think that's a good reason to say, 'hey, we're going to take them away. That's my real take."

Rory: "The technology lets maybe some of the lesser players catch up with the better players."

Ewan Murray reports Rory McIlroy's comments on the eve of Glory's Visit To Kiawah:

McIlroy, whose honesty in public is one of his most endearing qualities, said: "I'm just happy to be part of that group of 16. I think the reason it is like this, fields are much deeper. Partly because the guys have just got better and have worked hard; they are putting more into the game physically, mentally, practice, technical, everything.

"But I think one of the big things is the technology. I think 25 years ago you had the really good players that could play with basically anything and nowadays the technology lets maybe some of the lesser players catch up with the better players. And I think that's why you see so many more guys winning these days."

The comments pick up where Ernie Els left off a few weeks ago.  It might also be a nice time to read the Joint Statement of Principles, where the skill component is key to action by the governing bodies. At least, according to the Statement:

While generally welcoming this progress, the R&A and the USGA will remain vigilant when considering equipment Rules. The purpose of the Rules is to protect golf's best traditions, to prevent an over-reliance on technological advances rather than skill, and to ensure that skill is the dominant element of success throughout the game.

Firestone Field Averaged 313.8 Yards!

We finally see a firm golf course on the PGA Tour with the ball running, drivers not taken away from the players, and the average...was 313.8 yards.

Of course, Mike Stachura, as he can always be counted on, tells us why this is nothing to worry about, it's too soon to say, it's...ah you know the usual denial tactics!

Technically he's right, the damage was done long ago when the governing bodies were outsmarted and now we're stuck with hundreds of 7,000-yard plus courses no one wants to play, own or maintain.

Gary Player Interrupts His Memories Of Lytham To Advocate Spending Money On Kids Instead Of Changing Golf Courses

Gary Player files a lovely Observer remembrance of his win at Lytham, though it is short on details about nearly losing his ball on 18--that is peppered with anecdotes and tips on playing the course.

Included is this nice little sidetrack of a rant.

They have made deeper and more riveted bunkers on the 2nd and other holes at Lytham, although the fact they have to do that concerns me on a wider scale. Lytham is hosting the greatest golf tournament on earth and they have to change the golf course.

It is happening everywhere, at the cost of hundreds of millions of pounds. And why? All that needs to happen is that the ball needs to be slowed down in the professional game. They shouldn't have to make changes to these great golf courses; money wasted on that should be spent on youth, the trustees of prosperity.

Callaway CEO On Cuts: "If this surprised anybody, they weren't paying attention"

Frank but accurate comment from Callaway CEO Chip Brewer in an exclusive interview with GolfDigest.com's Stachura and Johnson to explain staff cuts of 250 and other business restructuring.

"The golf club and golf ball business is what gets our excitement levels up. Clearly, we're very grounded in reality and we're going to come out with more aggressive, authentic and relevant programs, and that's going to extend from sales to marketing to product. In the past, they've claimed to be authentic and they haven't always been authentic, in my opinion. They've been high quality but they haven't always driven innovation and been as responsive as they could.  We're changing all that and the team is excited as hell about that.

After spending two days walking backwards to new tees on classic courses, I'd be more than happy to suggest for the 8941st time that Callaway would be wise to establish itself as the friend of classic courses by developing a slightly rolled back ball for use at the museum pieces of the game. Now that's innovation!

David Graham Wants Equipment Rules Revisited...

...but not a word about distance issues from the former U.S. Open champion and member of the Masters Cup and Tee Marker Placement Committee.

Jim Achenbach says Graham believes amateurs should be able to carry as many clubs as they want, with as much loft as they'd like to allow them to hit flops like Tiger and Phil (even though that takes special skill) and he's for the long putter too.

“If we examine long putters, it’s easy to see they have allowed a lot of people across the board to get more enjoyment from the game,” Graham says. “Absolutely the long putter has helped the game. It’s a good thing.

“Besides, even with a certain amount of opposition to the long putter, it may be too late to change it. Many golfers thoroughly depend on these putters. With this kind of passion, I think the game itself becomes the benefactor.”

As for the real issue at hand? Mum's the word!