FIRST PERSON

Belly putters' controversy is the talk of the town

By Robert Rock,
Special for WorldGolf.com

(May 27, 2004) -- We've not heard any more about a Tiger wedding - as suggested last week. I guess that was just one of those rumours that gains legs as it goes on.

There was some happy news on the Tour last week, however, as Ian Poulter pulled out of the tournament in Germany as his fiancée Katie was giving birth - not at the course you understand.

We were all delighted to hear that Katie and new son Luke James were both fine and our congratulations go out to all of them.

Poor Mark Roe had nothing to celebrate, however. After shooting a 79 on the first day, a couple of caddies started claiming he'd hit a moving ball when putting.

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Mark was in at six the next morning, heard this and felt he had no alternative but to disqualify himself. If he'd hit a good second-day score and got back into it, the rumour might have started that he was a 'cheat' - and none of us would want that to happen.

It was a bit out of order of the caddies really. I think it should be fellow players that pick up on things like that - starting rumours does nobody any favours. They should have told him there and then. He would have been DQ'ed and wouldn't have needed to get up early the next morning.

As it happened, Mark saw the funny side of it even though both he and his caddy felt the ball had not been moving.

A lot has been said in the media this week about belly putters after Ernie Els called for them to be banned - so naturally a lot of the guys have been discussing it.

It seems most agree with Ernie - though obviously not those who use them. I'm certainly with Ernie on this one. There's a definite skill to putting and there are those who putt really well and those with flaws who have to work on that part of their game - and that's the camp I'm in at the moment.

The longer putters cure some of the flaws, so it helps some players. But it's no panacea. Some flaws it doesn't help. So some people find their game improving artificially while others have to look for cures elsewhere. I don't think anybody's won a major with a longer putter yet, but Vijay Singh uses one and he's No. 2 in the world - so there might be something in it.

It's within the rules now but there is talk of banning any point of anchoring. I believe Laura Davies was the first to raise the point and the momentum has been building since then.

Another point of controversy this week was raised at a players' meeting. Apparently Miguel Martin and Maarten Lafeber unfortunately have some sort of ongoing feud. And after they were paired together recently in Portugal Miguel Martin refused to sign Lafeber's card.

The question was asked as to why he was not disqualified. And his behaviour and etiquette were also called into question. Many of us were baffled as to why, on the back of this, he was invited to play in this week's big event at Wentworth. His actions certainly don't warrant an invite, and it is stopping somebody else from participating.

Personally I can think of several up-and-coming young players more deserving of a chance. Suffice to say Miguel is not the most popular person on the Tour at this time.

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