Anti-Anchorers Are The Tea Party Of Golf

Whilst trolling the social networks (not snapchat nor chat roulete, mind you) today, I stumbled onto Brian McCallen’s Resolutions article on another fine golfing site/magazine. What a unique topic, thought I. I believe I’ll read on. Much to my dismay, McCallen couldn’t get beyond resolution #1 without taking a whack at the anchoring issue. It was then that I realized the extreme nature of the anti-anchoring set.

I’d love to enlighten McCallen and others, I truly would. I’d love for them to try putting with the nob jammed into the umbilical hole and see it not become the panacea they envision it to be. Here’s a brilliant quote, based on nothing and proving nothing: “As Tiger, Rory, and others have noted, nerves, i.e., the “small twitchy muscles” in the hands and wrists, are part and parcel of the putting stroke.” Right, is that rule 18 or 19? Is there one that relates to presence or absence of facial hair, tattoos and forward-facing hats?

I also wish that the tournament at Kapalua would not have scrubbed its first round. I’m certain that the nay-sayers would have pointed to Webb Simpson being three-under par after 7 holes and remarked “for sure, it’s the anchor. not his ball-striking, not his management skills, but the putter.” After all, Simpson, Petterson, Els, Bradley, Scott and others are clearly substandard golfers from tee to green.

I remember 2012, when Adam Scott won the British Open and Carl Petterson destroyed the field at the PGA Championship. Wait, what? They didn’t? You mean they missed putts down the stretch? You mean that nervous tension afflicts anchorers, too? Shocking.

Anchored putting will die an inglorious death at the hands of over-zealous and over-influenced rules administrators. The horse is dead, so stop flailing away, Lemonade & Tea Party.