Alex Miceli - July 25, 2012

• By Morning Drive Team
• Jul 25, 2012 7:54 AM ET

Golf Channel Contributor Alex Miceli is in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada this week for the RBC Canadian Open. Ernie Els became the third Major Champion in the last four Majors to use an anchored putter and Miceli said that many people misunderstand what the USGA and R&A are concerned about. They are not as worried about professionals using belly putters as they are about young kids using them. He thinks that the USGA and R&A are on the same page in that they both believe that anchoring presents a problem but that the USGA is a bit more reticent to take immediate action.

On the question of Royal Portrush hosting an Open Championship in the future, R&A Chief Executive Peter Dawson poured ice cold water on the idea last week. Dawson said that a lot of money would have to spent to bring Royal Portrush up to a level where an Open Championship could be hosted and Dawson said that he would not be willing to spend so much money on a course if it were not going to be hosted on numerous occasions over a long period of time. Many people feel that Royal Portrush would only host once and while Dawson does not support the idea of spending so much money on a one-off host, the position of the R&A could change when Dawson leaves or if a public or private sector course could come up with the money needed to upgrade the course and facility at Royal Portrush. But as of now, it does not appear that Royal Portrush will host an Open Championship in the near future.