Matti Schmid’s recent strong performance at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he secured second place, has sparked debate regarding a potential rules violation. Television footage showed his left thumb appearing very close to his shirt while addressing the ball with his long putter, prompting questions about whether he might be “anchoring” the club.
The German golfer’s impressive putting display, crucial to his second-place finish, is now under scrutiny.
Close-up shots revealed his left thumb near the putter grip, with his shirt appearing creased against his thumb knuckle. This raised concerns: was his knuckle contacting his chest? Was this a fixed anchor point, violating Rule 10.1, which prohibits anchoring the club during a stroke?
While BBC Sport has contacted Schmid’s representatives for clarification, the ambiguity surrounding his technique casts a shadow over his achievement. The rule explicitly states that anchoring is prohibited by directly holding the club or gripping hand against the body.
A leading referee, upon reviewing an image, acknowledged the situation presented a “bad look” due to the lack of space between Schmid’s thumb and shirt. However, he also noted an exception in the rule: incidental contact without deliberate anchoring against the body is permissible.
Therefore, definitively determining whether Schmid’s putting stroke was legal remains impossible. The persistent ambiguity surrounding “anchoring,” despite rule changes almost a decade ago, highlights a significant issue within the game.
Schmid’s exceptional putting, earning him top putting stats and propelling him to 55th in the FedEx Cup standings, further underscores the importance of this discussion. While it’s plausible his stroke included sufficient movement to avoid a violation, the underlying issue remains highly debated amongst professionals.
A referee commented that while Schmid likely only touched his shirt, his proximity to his chest raises questions of player integrity. Another DP World Tour official, speaking anonymously, emphasized the difficulty of enforcing this rule, stating that it often comes down to a player’s word.
The 2016 rule change, implemented after several major wins by golfers using anchored putters, aimed to preserve the “fundamental characteristics of the putting stroke.” While anchoring against the forearm (as seen with Bryson DeChambeau) is allowed due to its dynamic nature, concerns remain about the overall ease of putting with longer shafts.
Many players, including Schmid, Akshay Bhatia, Si Woo Kim, and Lucas Glover, continue to utilize long putters effectively. Veterans like Bernhard Langer and Scott McCarron have faced similar scrutiny on the Seniors Tour, and Eugenio Chacarra’s recent win highlighted this ongoing debate.
Langer, in a 2017 statement, emphasized his commitment to integrity and the clear distinction he believes exists between anchoring and incidental contact. However, the subtle nature of these actions makes enforcement extremely challenging.
The lack of clarity surrounding this fundamental aspect of the game is deeply unsatisfactory, particularly for players like Schmid who excel at putting. Eddie Pepperell suggested a simple solution: limiting putter length. Several referees concur, advocating for clearer, more easily enforceable regulations.