PGA to Ban Anchored putting Methods

It just came out that the USGA and R&A have proposed to ban the use of anchored putting from 2016. This means the putter can no longer be anchored to any part of the body, be it belly, midriff or chin. I think it also bans the player from anchoring his forearms/ hands against the body too.

The USGA doesn't outlaw belly or broomhandle putters, but it has to be used in a free swinging manner.The claim is that it takes into consideration people who have back problems and need to use a long putter. The long putter is not favoured in Singapore. Haven't seen anybody use a long putter here, a rarity in the shops. The main problem is trying it to fit in a golf bag and trying to fly with it, especially with the Broomhandle putter.

BBC Sport article

The big guns of golf Tiger Woods and Rory McIlory are in support of this ban.

I don't use a long putter, so I am in the doesn't affect me camp. Don't play the medals or competition or for side bets. So I play against myself and the course only. But not to remain a hermit, I am in support of the ban. Because we swing the rest of the clubs and we should swing the putter too.

There is no strong evidence that a person with a belly putter as a true advantage. Looking at the stats from the PGA Tour and all, the only thing that gets the USGA / R&A worried is the recent Major wins by long belly putters.(Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els) Also another significant long putter is the 14 year amateur from China who is going to the Masters. This ruling is also going to screw players who only know how to putt with  long putters and will have to relearn putting. The golf industry is still pissed about the groove change which caused them a lot of money. This rule change raises a lot of grievances as opposed to the groove change, as it affects the style of play.

I agree with the ban because I think it's not a swing and it does give an advantage. But I really think its a little too late, belly putters have been around for a long time with Tour wins with it. Maybe because the long putter is being more accepted as a legit way of putting rather then previously when a player used it only when he was desperate and in a slump and needed a quick fix, that makes the rulemakers react.