Ban on anchoring long putters proposed from 2016

(Reuters) - A ban on players anchoring long putters, to come into force from January 2016, has been proposed by the Royal and Ancient (R&A) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

"The proposed Rule 14-1b, which follows an extensive review by The R&A and the USGA, would prohibit strokes made with the club or a hand gripping the club held directly against the player's body, or with a forearm held against the body to establish an anchor point that indirectly anchors the club," the two bodies said in a statement on Wednesday.