The belly putter is set to be put under the microscope by the R&A and the US Golf Association after a sharp rise in the number of voices questioning whether it is in keeping with the spirit of the game. PING K15 Combo Irons Graphite.3H,4H,5H,3-9PS


And that's official.

It was confirmed this week by the US Golf Association's executive director Mike Davis, who said that the use of the club, which has been steadily growing on the PGA and European Tours during the past year or so and as a consequence is being used by more and more weekend warriors, was now being looked at with a searching eye by the sport's two world governing bodies.

"More players are using it, both on the elite level and at the recreational level," he said in a press statement.

"We want to be sure that we are looking at all the angles and thinking about what is in the best interests of the traditions of the game; the history of the game, and what we think would be good for the PING K15 Combo Irons Graphite.3H,4H,5H,3-9PS ," said Davis.

"If you look back at the interest in it (long handle putters), it really never changed for over 20 years. Mow all of a sudden in 2011 this has become a much bigger topic. So the R&A and USGA have been talking about this at length, and we're looking at it from the perspective (of) what is good for the game for all golfers, long term."

The use of long putters has divided opinion in the professional game, with Tiger Woods admitting he had never been "a huge fan" and even suggesting a rule change might be in order.

"My idea was to have it so that the putter would be equal to or less than the shortest PING K15 Combo Irons Graphite.3H,4H,5H,3-9PS
in your bag," Woods said. "I think with that, we'd be able to get away from any type of belly anchoring."

Keegan Bradley became the first player in history to win a major championship with a long putter when he took the PGA Championship in Atlanta last August.

His victory has led to a significant surge in sales of the club - and no longer only to older players suffering from the dreaded Yips as Bernhard Langer was when he switched to a broomstick putter and saved his career.