Peter Senior handed golf’s ruling bodies further dilemna in using a long-handled putter to become the oldest-ever winner of the Australian Open.

A dozen days earlier the R & A and USGA announced a ban would come into effect in 2016 outlawing any anchoring of the long-handled and belly putter to the body.

Peter Senior and his caddying son, Mitchell sharing the pride of Australian golf – the Stonehaven Trophy in winning the Emirates Australian Open. (Photo – Anthony Powter/www.golffile.ie)

Senior becomes the first player anywhere in the world to win since details of the ban were announced.

Senior defied extremely blustery conditions in Sydney to win by a shot with a final round 72 on the Lakes Course while World No. 4 Justin Rose struggled under the weight of a 76 to finish in a share of fourth.

Senior anchored the putter to his chin to surpass five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson’s Australian Open record by 10-years to win a second Australian Open at age 53.

Two years ago, Senior became the oldest winner of an Australasian Tour event and erased 1960 Centenary Open Champion, Kel Nagle from the ‘down under’ history books in capturing the 2010 Australian PGA title.

Senior had been introduced to the long-handled putter nearly 25-years ago by Scotland’s Sam Torrance.

And while American Keegan Bradley had been tormented by spectators last week in L.A. for using a belly putter, Senior had been singled out and labelled a ‘cheat’soon after the ‘anchoring ban’ news by failed Aussie tour pro, Mark Allen, now a golf instructor and part-time radio analyst.

Senior held aloft the gleaming Stonehaven Trophy declaring:  “I don’t see Allen’s name anywhere on the trophy.

“I normally don’t pay attention to someone who has achieved little in their career but while the long-handled putter is still legal I will continue to use it.”