Adam Scott not planning to sue over anchored putting

Adam Scott says joining a group of PGA Tour players with legal counsel ready to fight the ban on anchoring putters is just "business" and he is not planning to sue the rule makers or US Tour.

While golf's traditional rule makers the United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient (R&A) made their decision to ban anchoring from 2016, the US PGA Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia and the PGA of America are among bodies yet to announce whether they will follow suit.

Masters champion Scott is among a group of the tour's long putter users, including fellow major winners Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson, who have hired Boston-based attorney Harry Manion to represent them over the issue.

But he is hoping the US tour creates its own rule and says hiring legal counsel is not intended as a threat of a potential lawsuit should they fail to.

"My intention is just to get all the information given to me possible from the PGA Tour and like anyone else in a business, to have some professional guidance on this issue. That's all it is," Scott said.

"I'm not a lawyer and that's not my area of expertise. I don't think I have the ability to get that or ask the right questions.

"So I just want to get that information and make sure that my views are expressed to the Tour.



My intention is just to get all the information given to me possible from the PGA Tour and like anyone else in a business, to have some professional guidance on this issue.
Adam Scott



"There's no intention of filing suit or making problems but this is a business and I'm treating it professionally and I have professional counsel to do that."

Fellow Australian major winner David Graham believes the US PGA Tour should and will ignore the ruling made by the USGA and R&A and have their own rules.

Such a stance would mean players are allowed to anchor in regular tour events but then be banned from doing so at the US Open and British Open, and potentially also the Masters given the tournament committee indicated they would likely stay with the rule makers.

"I don't think the PGA Tour is going to adhere to the rule change and force so many of their members to change their putting techniques just because of the USGA," Graham said.

"The PGA Tour is not going to be lectured to by the USGA and I don't think they should have to adhere to the USGA anyway.

"I think you might even see Tim Finchem (US PGA Tour commissioner) resign and take early retirement and not have to deal with it and I think the players will band together and say 'why do we have to play under USGA rules, we can play under our own'."

Given his belief the ban will not be put forward, Graham says the debate about how many majors Scott might win is a no-brainer.

"I'm think Scott will win more majors, perhaps four or five or more," Graham said.

"To go from where he was after last year's British Open and turn that around and win any major is a phenomenal tribute to his abilities and I give him high praise."

Scott lines up at this week's Memorial tournament looking to make a further statement, just two weeks out from the US Open at Merion.

"I feel my game is in good shape and I've touched back on the ground now," he said.

"I'm ready to put myself back into contention and get the momentum happening before the US Open."