Scott leans to broomstick for Australian Open

Updated December 05, 2012 13:47:56

Title favourite Adam Scott says he will probably stick with his trusty broomstick for the Australian Open despite again trialling a shorter putter during practice on the tournament eve.

Scott used a specially-ordered 40-inch putter on the front nine before reverting to his familiar, chest-anchored long putter for the rest of his Wednesday pro-am round at The Lakes.

The world number seven had little joy with either and admitted he was not 100 per cent certain which putter he would use in Thursday's opening round, but was leaning towards the long wand.

"I don't know, I'll see. I'll probably putt with the long putter," Scott said.

"The other one I was messing around with was my first go and it's just not quite what I wanted to do.

"It's not quite set up for me, so I'll have another go with that another time if I feel I need to."

With golf's rule makers last week announcing they were likely to outlaw putters anchored to the body, Scott is already planning for life after the broomstick, which he has wielded with such great effect while reviving his career over the past 20 months.

The Queenslander, though, insisted he was not being scared into a hasty change by the potential ban.

"I ordered that (shorter) putter a while back and I was just experimenting for my own amusement with a few things," said the Australian Masters champion.

"It's just slightly longer than a short putter (of 35 or 36 inches). I think it's 40 inches."

It's unlikely any ban would be enforced before 2016 and, asked if he planned to ditch the broomstick in 2013, Scott said: "No, I don't think so.

"Unless I invent a better way to putt for myself, then I'll stick with the broomstick."

AAP

Tags: golf, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted December 05, 2012 13:47:56

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Watson says broomstick putter 'just not golf'

Updated November 01, 2012 13:40:54

American great Tom Watson claims using a broomstick putter is just not golf and does give players an advantage.

Golf's governing bodies are poised to outlaw the use of long putters at the end of the year, though any ban would unlikely come into effect before 2016.

While the broomsticks have been around a long time, they have become increasingly prominent on the main tours in recent years with many leading players - including Australia's Adam Scott - making the switch with good effect.

Three of the past five major championship winners have used a long putter and calls are growing louder and louder for broomstick and belly putters to be banned.

Eight-times major champion Watson, heading to Sydney next month for the Australian Open at the Lakes course, has battled his own putting demons for much of his career but has never really been tempted to ditch the traditional blade.

"I think what they're going to do - and it's kind of common knowledge - the USGA and the R & A are going to ban the anchoring of the putter on any part of the body," said Watson in a teleconference with Australian golf writers on Thursday.

"I've never felt the broomstick putter was a stroke of golf.

"I may be in the minority, but one of the things that you see in teaching golf here in America, a lot of kids are being taught to use the long putter and I think it probably gives you an advantage.

He added: "It's helped a lot of people."

"I tried it once. I hit three putts with it from about 40 feet.

"I left my first putt 20 feet short; I hit it fat. I knocked my next putt about 15 feet by and finally hit my third putt kind of the right distance.

"So that's the extent of my practice with the broomstick.

"There are definite advantages with it because you take it back and basically the pendulum, the weight of the putter, will carry it through the impact area.

"There's really no chance to jerk it too much if you keep pretty still."

Supporters, though, including reigning US Open champion Webb Simpson, argue that technological advancements in drivers have had far more impact on the game.

AAP

Tags: sport, golf, australia, united-states

First posted November 01, 2012 13:40:54

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