G-Mac: Who’s in charge?

Graeme McDowell believes the battle to ban anchored putters will decide who really rules the game of golf.

While the Antrim man is against anchoring the putter to the body and feels sorry for pal Keegan Bradley, who has been called a cheat by fans for using the method, he reckons the stand-off between the PGA Tour and golf’s governing bodies will decide who wears the trousers when it comes to running the game.

Speaking ahead of the Honda Classic, McDowell said: “I do feel for Keegan. It’s been a long, drawn out affair and it’s horrible.

“Getting called a cheat at Tiger’s event last year and all that stuff, it’s bang out of line. These guys are well within the rules right now and it’s just opened up a can of worms with the R&A and the USGA.

“I’d like to see them come to an agreement and set it aside for the time being until we are going to implement the rule.”

Commissioner Tim Finchem publicly announced last week that the PGA Tour is against the implementation of the proposed ban on anchoring, raising the possibility that they could ignore the USGA and the R&A and allow the method under their own rules.

That could lead to players being allowed to anchor in regular US Tour events but being forced to use a short putter for the British Open and the US Open, which are run by the R&A and the USGA.

McDowell believes bifurcation could be possible by allowing club golfers to use the anchored putter while banning it at the top amateur level and in the professional game. And he’s keen to see how the problem will be resolved, especially if it comes to a Mexican stand off between the governing bodies and the PGA Tour.

“What’s going to happen at WGCs if the European Tour go with it, as it appears, and the PGA Tour goes against it?” McDowell said. “You are going to all of a sudden find out who runs world golf. Is it the PGA Tour? Is it the USGA and the R&A? Who calls the shots?

“What’s Keegan going to do at the [British] Open and the US Open? What’s Adam Scott going to do then? Are they going to write themselves off for two weeks a year or switch to the short putter for two weeks a year? It’s an interesting one and I don’t know what the answer is. I just hope they can come up with an answer.”

Tiger Woods is against anchoring and bifurcation and yesterday echoed Rory McIlroy’s called for unity in the game following Finchem’s confirmation that the PGA Tour is against the rule change.

“Hopefully we don’t have to bifurcate or adapt a local rule like we do sometimes out here on tour with the stones and bunkers and things of that nature,” Woods said.

“I understand [Finchem’s] position but I still feel that all 14 clubs should be swung. That hasn’t changed at all whatever.”

Woods also had words of encouragement for Rory McIlroy, who defends the Honda Classic title this week, and praised the way the Holywood star had adapted to dealing with the pressures of being world No 1.

“I think Rory is doing a fantastic job of dealing with it all,” Woods said. “I got to No 1 very quickly. I turned pro in August and I think by Augusta, somewhere in there, I became No 1.

“It was a little bit faster than what Rory has had but he’s had time to adapt and to grow into it. I think he’s done a fantastic job of it.”

McIlroy is hoping a good week in Palm Beach, Florida will halt the tide of criticism directed at him since his Nike move. He said: “Am I close to shutting up the critics again? It’s actually a good omen because every time it happens, I do something good.

“It comes with the territory. I understand that people are going to ask the questions and it is up to me to answer them on the golf course. I know I need to play well. It’s not like I need people to tell me.”