Prior to today’s conference call of the PGA Tour’s Policy Board, circuit commissioner Tim Finchem held a conference call with the members of the Player Advisory Council regarding the possible U.S. Golf Association and Royal & Ancient’s ban on anchoring.
According to one member of the PAC who was on the call and who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, about 12 to 13 members of the PAC participated in the meeting, which lasted about 35 minutes.
Each PAC member on the call was asked their opinion on the potential ban, which would go into effect in 2016, and “everybody is against it,” the PAC member said.
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“Ten, 20 years ago if you wanted to change the rule, fine, but you are looking at a rule that will impact junior golf and college golf, the amateurs playing at the local club,” the player said.
Although most players were against the proposed ban, which is currently in a 90-day comment period which ends Feb. 28, the PAC member said there was talk about a potential “grandfather” clause which would allow longtime long-putter users like Tim Clark and Carl Pettersson the ability to keep using them.
Nor did Finchem nor any of the Tour executives on the call suggest the need for bifurcation, which would clear the way for the Tour to deviate from the Rules of Golf if the ban goes through.
“He gave everybody a chance to say their opinion,” the PAC member said. “The best point one guy made was there are a lot of other issues than this one to be concerned with.”
Finchem had a similar call with the Policy Board at 5 p.m. ET.