Sport

Scott backs long putters again

11:34 am on 7 November 2012

The Australian golfer Adam Scott has shot down a putter rule change suggestion by Tiger Woods and told golf's governing bodies to focus on more pressing issues as he leapt to the defence of controversial long putters.

Once seen as a desperate attempt by struggling golfers to change their fortunes on the greens, long putters - like the broom handle or belly putter that Scott uses - have seen a dramatic rise in popularity in professional golf.

The US Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient, the game's two governing bodies are discussing the status of 'anchored putters' with a ban being considered.

Fourteen-times major winner Woods has voiced long-standing opposition against the use of the long putters, and believes putter length should be capped and be equal or less than the shortest club in the golfer's bag.

World number six Scott, speaking before this week's Singapore Open, is not a fan of the idea. He says Woods' views aren't necessarily correct, as there's never been a rule about the putter being the shortest club.

Critics say that the belly putter, in particular, offers an unfair advantage to those using the traditional short putter as players can anchor the club in their stomach which involves less body movement and ultimately fewer errors.