European Tour backs belly putter ban

The European Tour yesterday followed Rory McIlroy in telling the PGA it had got it wrong over the proposed ban on belly putters from 2016.

The PGA Tour came out against the ban last month, joining the PGA of America in opposing the move, but calls for unity behind the game's law-makers are growing.

The European Tour's chief executive, George O'Grady, said: "Virtually all of our tournament committee and player representatives support the proposed rule even though they are aware... that some members, and especially our senior members, use the anchored method."