I'm getting the sense that the future of belly putters and long putters may not be as secure as the clubs tucked into the navels of Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson, Bill Haas and others.
Tiger Woods became the latest to chime in on whether the longer than standard putters should be banned. He said during his pre-tournament press conference at Pebble Beach that he thinks the clubs should be outlawed and he's spoken to Peter Dawson, head man at the Royal & Ancient, about it more than once.
Woods solution is sensible - create a rule that requires the putter to be no longer than the shortest club in your bag. That solves the dilemma created by players anchoring putters against their bodies.
"I believe (putting) is the art of controlling the body and club and swinging the pendulum. I'm a traditionalist when it comes to that," Woods said in his press conference.
The subject is under review, according to USGA executive director Mike Davis at the organization's annual meeting last week. He didn't say there would be a change in the rules coming - few things move at such a glacial pace as changes in golf - but he opened the door on it. There have also been published reports suggesting the Royal & Ancient is looking into whether anchoring putters against the body helps players in the wind and rain.
Without diminishing what Simpson, Bradley or Fred Couples have done with the unconventional blade, I fall in line with Woods and others who think the game is better without belly or long putters. And I'm a guy who can three-putt from three feet - and have.
I've heard the dissenters point to Billy Casper and others who anchored their hands against their thighs when they putted. Change that, too, then. In no other stroke does a player anchor the club against their body. Putting shouldn't be different.
I've also heard the argument if belly putters were that great, everyone would use them. Obviously, everybody doesn't use them but more and more players are. Ernie Els swore he'd never use one but now has one in his bag. Even Phil Mickelson gave it a try.
The game changes. The ball goes forever now. Shafts, space-age materials in driver heads and computer fitting are in danger of tilting the game too near science and too far from skill. It may be too late to pull back on that one.
But belly putters and long putters, it's not too late - yet.
