Els phasing out belly putter but will use it at Augusta

(Reuters) - British Open champion Ernie Els will use the belly putter for the last time at a major during the U.S. Masters next week as he phases out the controversial club ahead of a proposed ban, the South African said.

The rule-making Royal and Ancient and the United States Golf Association want to outlaw the controversial anchoring of a long-handled putter to the body during the swing - a technique employed by three of the last five major winners including Els - from 2016.