World No. 1 Rory McIlroy said the PGA Tour should accept the decision if golf’s ruling bodies declare a ban on the anchoring of the belly or long-handled putter.

PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem revealed last Sunday the PGA Tour and PGA of America have written to the USGA stating their objection to any rule change.

Howver McIlroy, speaking ahead of his defence of this week’s Honda Classic in Florida, said the PGA Tour should accept the referee’s decision.

“We’ve trusted this game of golf, we’ve put it in the hands of the R&A and the USGA, for I don’t know how many years,” said McIlroy.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy says PGA Tour should leave Rules of Golf to USGA and R & A. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“And we’ve always abided by the rules that they have set. I don’t think this should be any different. If they think that it’s for the good of the game . . . I think golf’s pretty good at the minute and it’s in good hands.

“You’re going to have a few guys that say they don’t want it, and there are going to be guys that have used it their whole lives that say that they can’t play without it.

“But if it were up to me, whatever decision the USGA comes to, because obviously they had this 90‑day period for comment, whatever it was, so maybe the pressure that the PGA Tour has put on them, they might change their minds and re-think it. And if they do that, then that’s totally fine with me.”

Eight-time European No. 1 Colin Montgomerie quickly stated such a stane would ‘open a can of worms’ should the R & A and USGA ban any anchoring of the club and the PGA Tour then refused to accept the referee’s decision.

However McIlroy does not fully support Monty’s view.

“I read that Monty said this divide isn’t good for golf, and I don’t think it is.  I think we all need to be on one side or the other. It’s up to the governing bodies at the end of the day to decide,” added McIlroy.

“I sort of think it was a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to how much success people were having with it. I’m all for people enjoying the game and trying to make the game as easy as possible and bringing people to the game, and if that means that they should allow belly putters, or anchor putters, to make it easier for the general public, then you know, that’s a good thing.

“But then they talk about bifurcation and whether you should have one set of rules for us and one set of rules for the amateurs. It’s just a bit of a mess. It’s just opened a can of worms with it.”