Last weekend, Akshay Bhatia secured his first victory of 2026 and his third profession win on the PGA Tour.
The 24-year-old has been in distinctive type with a top-five, top-10 and top-20 end in his three occasions main as much as the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Bhatia performed solidly throughout all 4 rounds and mounted a formidable comeback on Sunday. Trailing by 5 strokes to Daniel Berger heading into the again 9, he surged with 4 consecutive birdies, forcing a playoff with Berger and clinching the win in sudden loss of life.
But whereas his thrilling victory was broadly celebrated, it got here with controversy.
Bhatia makes use of a 50-inch Odyssey Jailbird 380 Broomstick putter, a bit of apparatus that has drawn scrutiny. He switched to the lengthy putter in September 2023, transferring away from the standard fashion, after rating 183rd on the PGA Tour for Strokes Gained: Putting. He was shedding greater than half a stroke to the sector on the time.
Since the change, his placing efficiency has dramatically improved—he rose to thirty third in 2024 and completed thirty fifth in 2025.
The downside is that Bhatia is alleged to be anchoring his putter by holding the top of his broomstick towards his chest, which is towards the foundations.
I don’t suppose he’s. Here is why.
Evidence of Bhatia’s placing stroke
In 2016, the USGA banned the anchoring stroke which prevents gamers from touching the putter to any a part of their physique.
Bhatia has used this broomstick putter for years but it surely wasn’t till now that the difficulty was raised. Is this criticism simply because he received a signature occasion towards the very best gamers on this planet? It’s time for gamers to cease complaining and begin appreciating an up-and-coming star reasonably than accusing him of dishonest.
Videos of Bhatia’s placing stroke present what seems to be the highest of the putter anchored towards his chest however it is a misunderstanding.
His torso, arms and putter transfer in unison which makes it appear to be the putter is anchored however it’s merely a easy, well-executed stroke.
Yes, you’ll be able to see a slight dimpling in his shirt when he addresses the putter however that doesn’t show he’s anchoring. The shirt isn’t a part of his physique and it doesn’t violate the anchoring rule.
And previous taking part in companions like Michael Kim are satisfied that he’s not anchoring.
“It’s funny to me that Akshay anchoring is a thing. In person, it’s not that close. This is not a concern amongst the players,” Kim wrote on Twitter.
Bhatia gained a formidable 10.6 strokes on the sector together with his placing on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, three strokes higher than second-place Billy Horschel and 7 strokes forward of Berger, whom he defeated within the playoff.
Currently, Bhatia ranks twelfth in SG: Putting this season, demonstrating that he’s merely refining his method.
Rule 14-1b: Anchoring the membership
In making a stroke, a participant should not anchor the membership, both “directly” or by means of using an “anchor point.”
- Note 1: The membership is taken into account “anchored directly” when the participant deliberately holds the membership or a gripping hand in touch with any a part of their physique, besides when holding the membership or gripping hand towards the hand or forearm.
- Note 2: An “anchor point” happens when a participant deliberately holds a forearm in touch with any a part of their physique to determine the gripping hand as a steady level, round which the opposite hand can swing the membership.
History of the anchoring the membership rule
The so-called “belly putter” has been in use for a few years with the primary one authorized for PGA Tour use in 1965. Notable golfers corresponding to Johnny Miller, Paul Azinger and Vijay Singh used the stomach putter.
It wasn’t till the 2000s that gamers started anchoring the putter to their our bodies which sparked questions on whether or not they have been gaining an unfair benefit. In August 2011, Keegan Bradley made historical past as the primary participant to win a significant championship utilizing an anchored putter. This was adopted by a stretch the place 4 of the following six main championships have been received with anchored putters.
In November 2012, the USGA proposed a rule change to ban anchoring strokes, efficient in January 2016. This led to the introduction of Rule 14-1b which the PGA Tour adopted in July 2013.
Is Bhatia anchoring or is that this a lot ado about nothing?
Should gamers nonetheless be allowed to anchor to their arms?
Let me know beneath within the feedback.
Top Photo Caption: Akshay Bhatia hits a putt throughout his win on the Arnold Palmer Invitational. (GETTY IMAGES/Michael Pimentel)
